Screening for autism spectrum disorders

The global prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders is around 1%. In recent decades, it has increased for several reasons, including changes in diagnostic definitions, greater awareness among professionals, and improved survival rates of children at high neurological risk.

After posing and answering a series of structured questions, the PrevInfad group issues a number of recommendations. The first is to recommend developmental surveillance in the general population from 0 to 36 months of age, carried out in primary care using the methodology of the Child Health Program.

Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder is recommended using the M-CHAT-20-R/F scale (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up) only in the population aged 16 to 30 months who belong to a risk group for autism spectrum disorder.

There is no good-quality evidence either to recommend or to discourage screening with the M-CHAT-R/F in the general population aged 16 to 30 months, which should always be carried out within the context of other psychomotor developmental surveillance interventions.

It is recommended that all children aged 0 to 30 months with suspected or diagnosed autism spectrum disorder or developmental disorders be referred to early intervention services as early as possible.