Title of article :
Early Screening of Autism among 18 to 24 months Old Toddlers Using the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT)
Author/Authors :
MOHAMMADI, Mohammad Reza Department of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders - Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences - Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital,Tehran, Iran , ZAHED, Ghazal Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences - Mofid Childrens Hospital, Tehran, Iran , ZARAFSHAN, Hadi Department of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders - Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences - Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital,Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Objective
The aim of the present study was to screen the toddlers who are
suspected to be autistic in their well-child visits at age 18 to 24 months
via the Quantitative-Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT).
Materials & Methods
After the screening, the screen-positive cases were clinically assessed
by a child psychiatrist and a child developmental psychologist. The
total sample included 2467 toddlers; the mean total score of Q-CHAT
was 30.64 (SD: 9.133).
Result
According to the clinical examinations, 6 cases met the criteria for
autism (equal to 5.8% of screen-positive cases and 0.25% of the
total sample), and 18 cases had a high probability of autism or other
neurodevelopmental disorders.
Conclusion
This study showed that the toddlers who were at risk of autism could
be screened in PHC. Also, Q-CHAT could be used as a screening tool
in Iran.
Keywords :
Autism , Early Screening , Q-CHAT , Toddler
Journal title :
Iranian Journal of Child Neurology (IJCN)
