Measures Used to Screen and Diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorders in Young Children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication as well as the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs). The onset of these symptoms occurs in early development, and early identification is often crucial to obtaining timely intervention services. As a result, several level 1 and level 2 screening tools are available to determine whether a child may be at risk for ASD, thus requiring further assessment. If an assessment is warranted, then measures utilizing clinician-rated observations, diagnostic interviews, or informant-based checklists can provide information on social and behavioral functioning across multiple contexts. Reviews of the psychometric properties, strengths and limitations, and recommendations of various screening and diagnostic measures will be discussed.