Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders among 16 Months to 30 Months Old Children in a Tertiary Care Hospital, South India

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are neuro-developmental disorders characterised by persistentimpairment in reciprocal social communication and repetitive patterns of behaviour.Objectives: To screen for ASDs children aged 16 to 30 months using M-CHAT-F (Modified Checklist Autismin Toddlers- Follow up) estimate the prevalence evaluate factors associated with ASDs.Method: Children were randomly screened MCHAT-F. who met theDSM-5 diagnostic criteria labelled autistic rest was followed up. Two controls each case selectedrandomly among subjects negative.Results: Nine hundred twenty screened. Among them, 508(55.2%) boys and412(44.8%) girls. Out 920 screened, 38(4.1%) failed M-CHAT. 38, 12 (1.3%)children continued fail M-CHAT/F “M-CHAT positive”. The mean age at diagnosis ASDwas 24±4.6 months. Prevalence ASD our setting 1 102 male: female ratio 8:1. positivepredictive value 75%. average score on M-CHAT 6.33 0.5 amongcontrol. Males, lack exclusive breast feeding excessive time found be withASDs.Conclusion: is high. an effective screening instrument ASDs.