The Autism Symptom Dimensions Questionnaire: Development and psychometric evaluation of a new, open-source measure of autism symptomatology.

AIM: To describe the development and initial psychometric evaluation of a new, freely available measure, the Autism Symptom Dimensions Questionnaire (ASDQ). METHOD: After development and revision of an initial 33-item version, informants completed a revised 39-item version of the ASDQ on 1467 children and adolescents (aged 2-17 years), including 104 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). RESULTS: The initial 33-item version of the ASDQ had good reliability and construct validity. However, only four specific symptom factors were identified, potentially due to an insufficient number of items. Factor analyses of the expanded instrument identified a general ASD factor and nine specific symptom factors with good measurement invariance across demographic groups. Scales showed good-to-excellent overall and conditional reliability. Exploratory analyses of predictive validity for ASD versus neurotypical and other developmental disability diagnoses indicated good accuracy for population and at-risk contexts. INTERPRETATION: The ASDQ is a free and psychometrically sound informant report instrument with good reliability of measurement across a continuous range of scores and preliminary evidence of predictive validity. The measure may be a useful alternative to existing autism symptom measures but further studies with comparison of clinical diagnoses using criterion-standard instruments are needed. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The Autism Symptom Dimensions Questionnaire (ASDQ) is a new, freely available measure of autism symptoms. The ASDQ showed reliable and accurate measurement of autism symptoms. The measure had good screening efficiency for autism spectrum disorder relative to other developmental conditions.

Ethnic Disparities in Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening and Referral: Implications for Pediatric Practice.

OBJECTIVE: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening completion rates are often low despite their validity and influence on earlier intervention and positive treatment outcomes. This study sought to examine the use of one ASD screening tool, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Revised (MCHAT-R), in a racially and ethnically diverse urban pediatric clinic to review potential disparities within screening rates and referral practices. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for children (N = 999) within the ages of 17 to 34 months seen for a well-child appointment at one of 3 pediatric clinics: a general pediatric clinic, resident pediatric clinic, and Hispanic pediatric clinic. RESULTS: MCHAT-R screening completion rates were low for all clinics. There were no significant differences in MCHAT-R screening completion based on ethnicity; however, the percentage of children screening positive on the MCHAT-R was significantly higher for Hispanic versus non-Hispanic children. Referral practices were highly variable across positive screenings, and few children received the appropriate combination of referrals. CONCLUSION: Ethnic disparities in ASD positive screening rates and inconsistent referrals represent a critical issue in current pediatric practice. There is a great need for the development of more culturally sensitive ASD screening instruments. Additionally, to help increase ASD screening rate and accuracy, as well as consistency in referrals, greater emphasis is needed on professional training, parental education, and technology use within pediatric clinics.