ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo analyze the research hotspots and frontier trends in the field of early screening tools of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) over the past two decades. MethodsThe literature on early screening tools for ASD was searched in Web of Science core collection database from 2002 to 2022. CiteSpace was used for cluster analysis of keywords, to draw knowledge mapping. Research disciplines were analyzed and comprehensively interpreted. ResultsA total of 115 articles were included. The number of researches on early screening tools for ASD had been increasing over the past two decades. The research disciplines with higher publication volume included pediatrics, neurology and neuroscience, and psychology. A total of 191 keywords were identified, and the LLR keyword clustering analysis yielded eleven clusters. ConclusionModified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F) and Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA) have been subjected to large-scale sample screening and follow-up observation for validity, demonstrating good psychometric properties and high clinical diagnostic value. The development of new early screening tools for ASD, validation of the reliability and validity of different language versions of the M-CHAT-R/F, and research on digital and networked M-CHAT-R/F are current research hotspots. Cultural adaptation of early screening tools for ASD and their application within the developmental monitoring framework may represent frontier research trends.