Autism Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Autism, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, causes, effects.

A preliminary study of screening for risk of autism in children with fragile X syndrome: testing two risk cut-offs for the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers.

Scambler DJ, Hepburn SL, Hagerman RJ, Rogers SJ

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. scambler@okstate.edu

OBJECTIVE: Risk criteria for the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) and modified risk criteria (i.e. the Denver Criteria) were compared in a group of children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) and autism. METHOD: Participants were 17 children aged 2-4 years with DNA confirmation of FXS. Four children had autism and 13 children did not. RESULTS: Preliminary findings regarding the sensitivity and specificity of the CHAT for detecting risk for autism in children with FXS are as follows: using the original CHAT risk criteria, sensitivity and specificity were 50% and 100%, respectively; and using the Denver Criteria, sensitivity and specificity were 75% and 92%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CHAT and the Denver Criteria resulted in preliminary findings suggesting high levels of sensitivity to autism in children with FXS.

Published 28 February 2007 in J Intellect Disabil Res, 51: 269-76.
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