The objective of this study was to examine referral practices after positive autism spectrum disorder screening with the modified checklist for autism in toddlers, revised with follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F) for potential variability based on demographic factors focusing on language and patient-reported need for interpretation.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No actionable change for audiologists; this study addresses autism referral pathways and is only tangentially relevant to hearing care through differential diagnosis of communication delays.
Understanding referral gaps after positive autism screening is indirectly relevant to audiology because hearing loss is a key differential diagnosis for communication delays in toddlers.
- 01Study examines referral practices after positive M-CHAT-R/F autism screening in toddlers.
- 02Published in Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.
- 03Hearing-health relevance is indirect — hearing loss must be ruled out in communication-delayed toddlers.
- 04Gaps in referral pathways could delay both autism diagnosis and hearing evaluations.
- 05Audiologists may encounter toddlers caught in these referral gaps.
Referral practices following positive M-CHAT-R/F screening are inconsistent or incomplete.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42644393
- DOI
- 10.1097/DBP.0000000000001512.
- Journal
- Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Toddlers who screened positive for autism risk using the M-CHAT-R/F
- Intervention
- Referral practices following positive Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised With Follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F) screening
Primary outcomes
Rate and appropriateness of referrals placed after positive autism screening; Follow-up service utilization after M-CHAT-R/F positive result