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Effectiveness of the ADEC as a level 2 screening test for young children with suspected autism spectrum disorders in a clinical setting

Dix, L., Fallows, R., Murphy, Glynis H. (2015) Effectiveness of the ADEC as a level 2 screening test for young children with suspected autism spectrum disorders in a clinical setting. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, . ISSN 1366-8250 (Print) 1469-9532 (Online). (doi:10.3109/13668250.2015.1014323) (KAR id:47544)

Abstract

Background The Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC) is a clinician-administered, Level 2 screening tool. A retrospective file audit was used to investigate its clinical effectiveness.

Method Toddlers referred to an Australian child development service between 2008 and 2010 (N?=?53, M age?=?32.2 months) were screened with the ADEC. Their medical records were reviewed in 2013 when their mean age was 74.5 months, and the original ADEC screening results were compared with later diagnostic outcomes.

Results The ADEC had good sensitivity (87.5%) and moderate specificity (62%). Three behaviours predicted autism spectrum disorders (ASDs): response to name, gaze switching, and gaze monitoring (p???.001).

Conclusions The ADEC shows promise as a screening tool that can discriminate between young children with ASDs and those who have specific communication disorders or developmental delays that persist into middle childhood but who do not meet the criteria for ASDs.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.3109/13668250.2015.1014323
Uncontrolled keywords: autism, early detection, screening, ADEC
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Tizard
Depositing User: Jo Ruffels
Date Deposited: 04 Mar 2015 15:21 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Dec 2022 03:18 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/47544 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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