Turkish Validation of the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers.
RITA-T is now a validated, free screening tool you can use with Turkish toddlers to catch autism earlier.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team gave the 10-minute RITA-T play test to 252 Turkish toddlers. Kids were 18 to 36 months old and spoke only Turkish at home.
They compared RITA-T scores to expert autism diagnoses. They also checked if the test gave the same results when two people scored it.
What they found
RITA-T caught 88 of every the toddlers who had autism. It also ruled out 84 of every 100 who did not have autism.
The test is free online and takes 10 minutes. It works the same in Turkish as it does in English.
How this fits with other research
Cheak-Zamora et al. (2021) did the same kind of check on the HRI scale for young adults. Both studies show caregiver tools can be trusted across ages.
Keating et al. (2024) also tested a 2024 checklist, the CCC-R, for language issues. Both papers give green lights for new tools this year.
Provost et al. (2007) reminds us that almost every toddler with autism also has motor delays. RITA-T does not check motor skills, so you may still need a motor screen.
Why it matters
If you serve Turkish-speaking families, you now have a fast, no-cost screen you can trust. Use RITA-T at 18-month check-ups to catch red flags early and start services sooner.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
It is important to diagnose autism spectrum disorder at an early age and to start an early intervention program without delay. In this study, we aimed to validate the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers (RITA-T) in a group of Turkish children and found that the RITA-T which has been shown to be a valid and reliable screening test for 18- to 36-month-old children in studies conducted in different countries, is also valid in Turkish children. Similar to previous studies, our results showed that the RITA-T has good sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing children with autism spectrum disorder. We think that our study will contribute to the timely initiation of early intervention programs for many children with autism by enabling a valid test to be used in screening programs.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2024 · doi:10.1177/13623613231217801