A Preliminary Trial of an Early Surveillance Program for Autism and Developmental Delays within General Practices

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Bibliographic Details
Title: A Preliminary Trial of an Early Surveillance Program for Autism and Developmental Delays within General Practices
Language: English
Authors: Lisa Karlov, Anne Masi, Antonia Mendoza Diaz, Feroza Khan, Teresa Winata, Melissa Gilbert, Radhika Nair, Cheryl Dissanayake, Josephine Barbaro, Valsamma Eapen (ORCID 0000-0001-6296-8306), Ifrah Abdullahi, Joseph Descallar, John Eastwood, Iqbal Hasan, Bin Jalaludin, Jane Kohlhoff, S. T. Liaw, Raghu Lingam, Natalie Ong, Chun Wah Michael Tam, Katy Unwin, Katrina Williams, Sue Woolfenden
Source: Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. 2025 37(2):279-289.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Diagnostic Tests, Children, Young Children, Parents, Disability Identification, Physicians, Family Practice (Medicine), Early Intervention, Developmental Delays, Access to Health Care, Disadvantaged, Screening Tests, Parent Participation, Physician Patient Relationship
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Mullen Scales of Early Learning
DOI: 10.1007/s10882-024-09952-w
ISSN: 1056-263X
1573-3580
Abstract: There are inequities in engagement with established early childhood developmental surveillance programs, eclipsing disadvantaged families. The current study sought to address this by dovetailing developmental surveillance with immunization visits and other opportunistic contacts with children at general practices). While 53 General Practices were recruited, significant COVID-19 disruptions resulted in only 81 children being screened (both parent-administered and GP completed). Of the 81 children, 11 screened positive and all of them along with 5% of screen negatives (i.e. 4 children) received clinician-administered reference-standard assessment for autism and developmental delay (DD) using Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), Autism Diagnostic Interview Schedule--Revised (ADI-R), and Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL). All children found by reference-standard assessment to have probable autism and/or DD had screened positive during the screening process, and 90.9% of children who screened positive were found by reference-standard assessment to have probable DD or autism. The findings provide early evidence for the feasibility and usefulness of parent completed and GP administered developmental measures during opportunistic contacts with GPs as a promising method to facilitate early identification of DD or autism.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1462994
Database: ERIC
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Description
Abstract:There are inequities in engagement with established early childhood developmental surveillance programs, eclipsing disadvantaged families. The current study sought to address this by dovetailing developmental surveillance with immunization visits and other opportunistic contacts with children at general practices). While 53 General Practices were recruited, significant COVID-19 disruptions resulted in only 81 children being screened (both parent-administered and GP completed). Of the 81 children, 11 screened positive and all of them along with 5% of screen negatives (i.e. 4 children) received clinician-administered reference-standard assessment for autism and developmental delay (DD) using Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), Autism Diagnostic Interview Schedule--Revised (ADI-R), and Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL). All children found by reference-standard assessment to have probable autism and/or DD had screened positive during the screening process, and 90.9% of children who screened positive were found by reference-standard assessment to have probable DD or autism. The findings provide early evidence for the feasibility and usefulness of parent completed and GP administered developmental measures during opportunistic contacts with GPs as a promising method to facilitate early identification of DD or autism.
ISSN:1056-263X
1573-3580
DOI:10.1007/s10882-024-09952-w