Autism screening and diagnostic outcomes among toddlers born preterm

Abstract

This study looked at how well an autism screener, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F), identified autism likelihood in toddlers who were born preterm compared to those born full term. The study also examined rates of autism diagnoses following screening in children born preterm.

A total of 9725 toddlers were screened using the M-CHAT-R/F, a parent questionnaire, at 15, 18, or 24 months of age during well visit check-ups. Toddlers were assigned to one of four groups based on how early they were born (extremely preterm, very preterm, moderately preterm, or full term). Those who screened positive were invited for diagnostic evaluation.

Results showed that children born extremely preterm had the highest rate of positive autism screenings (51.35%), whereas those born at term had the lowest rate (6.95%). Children attended the evaluations at similar rates across the preterm categories. Those who were born extremely preterm were most likely to receive an autism diagnosis (16.05%), followed by those born very preterm (2.00%), moderately preterm (2.89%), and full term (1.49%).