This study examined whether a novel parent-report questionnaire, the Autism Parent Screen for Infants, could differentiate infants subsequently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder from a high-risk cohort (siblings of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (n = 66)) from high-risk and low-risk comparison infants (no family history of autism spectrum disorder) who did not develop autism spectrum disorder (n = 138 and 79, respectively). Participants were assessed prospectively at 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months of age. At 36 months, a blind independent diagnostic assessment for autism spectrum disorder was completed. Parent report on the Autism Parent Screen for Infants was examined in relation to diagnostic outcome and risk status (i.e. high-risk sibling with autism spectrum disorder, high-risk sibling without autism spectrum disorder, and low-risk control). The results indicated that from 6 months of age, total score on the Autism Parent Screen for Infants differentiated between the siblings with autism spectrum disorder and the other two groups. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive validity of the Autism Parent Screen for Infants highlight its potential for the early screening of autism spectrum disorder in high-risk cohorts.
AllisonCAuyeungBBaron-CohenS (2012) Toward brief “red flags” for autism screening: the short autism spectrum quotient and the short quantitative checklist in 1,000 cases and 3,000 controls. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry51(2): 202–212.e7.
3.
AllisonCBaron-CohenSWheelwrightSet al. (2008) The Q-CHAT (quantitative checklist for autism in toddlers): a normally distributed quantitative measure of autistic traits at 18–24 month of age: preliminary report. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders38: 1414–1425.
4.
American Psychiatric Association (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed.Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
5.
BenjaminiYHochbergY (1995) Controlling the false discovery rate: A practical and powerful approach to multiple testing. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B (Methodological)57: 289–300.
6.
Ben-SassonACarterAS (2012) The application of the first year inventory for ASD screening in Israel. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders42: 1906–1916.
7.
BoltonPFGoldingJEmondAet al. (2012) Autism spectrum disorder and autistic traits in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children: precursors and early signs. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry51(3): 249–260.
8.
BrianJBrysonSEGaronNet al. (2008) Clinical assessment of autism in high-risk 18-month-olds. Autism12(5): 433–456.
9.
Briggs-GowanMJCarterASIrwinJRet al. (2004) The brief infant-toddler social and emotional assessment: screening for social-emotional problems and delays in competence. Journal of Pediatric Psychology29: 143–155.
10.
BrysonSEZwaigenbaumL (2014) Autism Observation Scale for infants. In: PatelVBPreedyVRMartinCR (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Autism. New York: Springer, pp.299–310.
11.
BrysonSEZwaigenbaumLMcDermottCet al. (2008) The Autism Observation Scale for infants: scale development and reliability data. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders38(4): 731–738.
12.
CarterASVolkmarFRSparrowSSet al. (1998) The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales: supplementary norms for individuals with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders28(4): 287–302.
13.
ChakrabartiSFombonneE (2005) Pervasive developmental disorders in preschool children: confirmation of high prevalence. American Journal of Psychiatry162: 1133–1141.
14.
ChawarskaKMacariSShicF (2013) Decreased spontaneous attention to social scenes in 6-month-old infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Biological Psychiatry74(3): 195–203.
15.
CohenILGardnerJMKarmelBZet al. (2013) Neonatal function and 4-month arousal-modulated attention are jointly associated with autism. Autism Research6: 11–22.
16.
DanielsAMMandellDS (2013) Explaining differences in age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis: A critical review. Autism18(5): 583–597.
17.
DawsonGRogersSMunsonJet al. (2010) Randomized, controlled trial of an intervention for toddlers with autism: the early start Denver model. Pediatrics125(1): e17–e23.
18.
DietzCSwinkelsSVan DaalenEet al. (2006) Screening for autistic spectrum disorder in children aged 14–15 months. II: population screening with the early screening of autistic traits questionnaire (ESAT). Design and general findings. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders36: 713–722.
19.
EisertDCSturnerRAMabePA (1991) Questionnaires in behavioural pediatrics: guidelines for selection and use. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics12(1): 42–50.
20.
ElisonJTPatersonSJWolffJJet al. (2013) White matter microstructure and atypical visual orienting in 7-month-olds at risk for autism. American Journal of Psychiatry170(8): 899–908.
21.
ElsabbaghMMercureEHudryKet al. (2012) Infant neural sensitivity to dynamic eye gaze is associated with later emerging autism. Current Biology22(4): 338–342.
22.
FeldmanMAWardRASavonaDet al. (2012) Development and initial validation of a parent report measure of the behavioral development of infants at risk for autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders42: 13–22.
23.
FischerJEBachmannLMJaeschkeR (2003) A readers’ guide to the interpretation of diagnostic test properties: clinical example of sepsis. Intensive Care Medicine29: 1043–1051.
24.
GlascoeFP (2000) Evidence-based approach to developmental and behavioural surveillance using parents’ concerns. Child: Care, Health and Development26: 137–149.
25.
GlascoeFPFosterMWolraichML (1997) An economic analysis of developmental detection methods. Pediatrics99(6): 830–837.
26.
GlascoeFPMaciasMMWegnerLMet al. (2007) Can a broadband developmental-behavioural screening test identify children likely to have autism spectrum disorder?Clinical Pediatrics46(9): 801–805.
27.
GothamKPicklesALordC (2009) Standardizing ADOS severity scores for a measure of severity in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders39(5): 693–705.
28.
GothamKRisiSPicklesA. (2007) The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule: Revised algorithms for improved diagnostic validity. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders37(4): 613–627.
29.
JesteSSVarcinKJHellemannGSet al. (2016) Symptom profiles of autism spectrum disorder in tuberous sclerosis complex. Neurology87(8): 766–772.
30.
JohnsonCPMyersSM (2007) Identification and evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorders (American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Children With Disabilities). Pediatrics120: 1183–1215.
31.
JonesWKlinA (2013) Attention to eyes is present but in decline in 2-6-month-old infants later diagnosed with autism. Nature504(7480): 427–431.
32.
KruizingaIVisserJCVan Batenburg-EddesTet al. (2014) Screening for autism spectrum disorders with the brief infant-toddler social and emotional assessment. PLoS ONE9(5): e97630.
33.
LandaRGarrett-MayerE (2006) Development in infants with autism spectrum disorders: a prospective study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry47(6): 629–638.
34.
LandaRJGrossALStuartEAet al. (2012) Latent class analysis of early developmental trajectory in baby siblings of children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry53(9): 986–896.
35.
LordCRutterMLeCouteurA (1994) Autism diagnostic interview-revised: a revised version of the diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders24: 659–685.
36.
LordCRisiSLambrechtLet al. (2000) The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: A standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders30(3): 205–223.
37.
LordCRutterMGoodeSet al. (1989) Autism diagnostic observation schedule: a standardized observation of communicative and social behavior. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders19(2): 185–212.
38.
MullenE (1995) Mullen Scales of Early Learning: American Guidance Services. Circle Pines, MN.
39.
OzonoffSIosifAMBaguioFet al. (2010) A prospective study of the emergence of early behavioral signs of autism. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry49(3): 256–66.e1-2.
40.
PerryACummingsADunn GeierJet al. (2008) Effectiveness of intensive behavioral intervention in a large, community-based program. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders2: 621–642.
41.
ReznickJSBaranekGTReavisSet al. (2007) A parent-report instrument for identifying one-year-olds at risk for an eventual diagnosis of autism: the first year inventory. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders37: 1691–1710.
42.
RobertsJETonnsenBLMcCaryLMet al. (2016) Brief report: autism symptoms in infants with fragile X syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Epub ahead of print 14September. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2903-5.
43.
RobinsDLCasagrandeKBartonMet al. (2014) Validation of the modified checklist for autism in toddlers, revised with follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F). Pediatrics133(1): 37–45.
44.
SacreyLABrysonSEZwaigenbaumL (2013) Prospective examination of visual attention during play in infants at high-risk for autism spectrum disorder: a longitudinal study from 6 to 36 months of age. Behavioural Brain Research256: 441–450.
45.
SacreyLRZwaigenbaumLBrysonSet al. (2015) Can parents’ concerns predict autism spectrum disorder? A prospective study of high-risk siblings from 6 to 36 months of age. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry54(6): 470–478.
46.
SallowsGOGraupnerTD (2005) Intensive behavioral treatment for children with autism: four-year outcome and predictors. American Journal on Mental Retardation110(6): 417–438.
47.
SiegelBAndersTFCiaranelloRDet al. (1986) Empirically derived subclassification of the autistic syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders16(3): 275–293.
48.
SmithNJSheldrickCPerrinEC (2013) An abbreviated screening instrument for autism spectrum disorders. Infant Mental Health Journal34(2): 149–155.
49.
SparrowSSBallaDCicchettiD (1984) Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Survey Form). Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
50.
SwinkelsSHDietzCVan DaalenEet al. (2006) Screening for autistic spectrum in children aged 14 to 15 months. I: the development of the early screening of autistic traits questionnaire (ESAT). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders36(6): 723–732.
51.
Turner-BrownLMBaranekGTReznickJSet al. (2012) The first year inventory: a longitudinal follow-up of 12-month-old to 3-year-old children. Autism17(5): 527–540.
52.
VolkmarFRCarterASparrowSSet al. (1993) Quantifying social development in autism. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry32(3): 627–632.
53.
WatsonLRBaranekGTCraisERet al. (2007) The first year inventory: retrospective parent responses to a questionnaire designed to identify one-year-olds at risk for autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders37(1): 49–61.
54.
WetherbyAMBrosnan-MaddoxSPeaceVet al. (2008) Validation of the infant-toddler checklist as a broadband screener for autism spectrum disorders from 9 to 24 months of age. Autism12(5): 487–511.
55.
YaariMYitzhakNHarelAet al. (2016) Stability of early risk assessment for autism spectrum disorder in preterm infants. Autism20(7): 856–867.
56.
ZwaigenbaumLBrysonSEBrianJet al. (2015) Stability of diagnostic assessment for autism spectrum disorder between 18 and 36 months in a high-risk cohort. Autism Research. Epub ahead of print 27November. DOI: 10.1002/aur.1585.
57.
ZwaigenbaumLBrysonSERogersTet al. (2005) Behavioral manifestations of autism in the first year of life. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience23: 143–152.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
