Tool | Age | Description | Sensitivity/specificity | Validation | Comment |
M-CHAT-R/F | 16 to 30 months |
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| Validated as first-tier screen*. Assesses risk of ASD as low, medium, or high. Children at medium risk require structured follow-up questions for additional information before referral for diagnostic evaluation. Follow-up interview takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes. |
STAT | 24 to 36 months |
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| Not validated as a first-tier screen*. Language comprehension is not required. |
ITC | 6 to 24 months |
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| The CSBS-DP is a broadband screen for communication delays but has not been validated as a screen for ASD. |
POSI | 18 to 35 months |
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| Additional studies in community samples are necessary before the POSI can be recommended as a first-tier screen*. |
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SCQ | 4 to 40 years |
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| Additional studies are necessary before the SCQ can be used as a first-tier screen*. Nonverbal children may require different cut-off scores. |
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ASSQ | 7 to 16 years |
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(with cut-off score ≥17) |
| Validated as first-tier screen*. Designed as a first-tier screen for children with high-functioning ASD. Clinicians can individualize cut-off scores to meet their diagnostic needs. |
AQ-Child | 4 to 11 years |
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| Additional studies are necessary before the AQ-Child can be recommended as a first-tier screening* tool. |
DBC-ASA | 4 to 18 years |
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| For use in children with intellectual disability. |
DBC-ES | 18 to 48 months |
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| For use in children with developmental delay. |
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M-CHAT-R/F: Modified CHAT, Revised with Follow-Up; ASD: autism spectrum disorder; ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; STAT: Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children; ITC: Infant Toddler Checklist; POSI: Parent's Observations of Social Interactions; SCQ: Social Communication Questionnaire; ASSQ: Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire; AQ-Child: Autism Spectrum Quotient-Children's Version; DBC-ASA: Developmental Behaviour Checklist-Autism Screening Algorithm; IQ: intelligence quotient; DBC-P: Developmental Behaviour Checklist for Pediatrics; DBC-ES: Developmental Behaviour Checklist-Early Screen.
* First-tier screening tools are used to identify children at risk for ASD from a general population; second-tier screening tools are used to discriminate ASD from other developmental disorders in children with developmental concerns.