The Mobile Autism Risk Assessment ( Mara )

The Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) is designed to objectively identify and measure levels of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autistic behavior in children (Fernandopulle, 2011, p. 6). It utilizes an observer’s rating of the child’s behavior in order to measure behaviors that are typically associated ASD (Davenport, 2011, p. 182). It was developed as a clinical measure to screen for ASD in individuals (ages 3-35). ABC includes 57 items and 5 scales: 1) sensory, 2) relating, 3) body and object use, 4) language and 5) social and self-help (Davenport, 2011, p. 183). The ABC is to be completed independently by a teacher or parent that have been familiar with the child for at least 3-6

Autism spectrum disorders are a class of developmental disorders that impair social skills, behavior, and communication (Center for Disease Control). ASDs are considered ‘spectrum’ disorders because each patient has a unique experience in the nature and severity of their symptoms (Center for Disease Control). Under the umbrella of ASDs, there are three types of disorders, including Autistic disorder, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (Center for Disease Control). Autistic disorder is the most severe of the three, and patients exhibit significant problems with language, communication, and behavior (Center for Disease Control). Furthermore, people with Autistic disorder often have some intellectual impairment (Center for Disease Control). Asperger Syndrome is a milder form of autistic disorder where patients have some developmental delays, but their language and intellect are not affected (Center for Disease Control). The mildest of the ASDs is the pervasive developmental disorder. These patients usually don’t meet all of the criteria for autistic disorder, but do show some signs of social and communication problems (Center for Disease Control). The number of children diagnosed with ASD is growing, and currently 1 in 88 children fall somewhere on the spectrum (Mari-Bauset et al., 2013). Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism, and while the exact cause of these disorders is unknown, both genetic and

The most recent data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (CDC, 2014). Children diagnosed with ASD often have difficulty with functional performance in several key areas including; social participation, communication, school based activities, motor performance and play. These impairments in functional performance are not exclusive to the child alone as the caregiver often assumes a great deal of burden in managing the symptoms of a child with ASD. Furthermore, these difficulties along with the rising diagnosis rate has pushed ASD to the forefront of clinical research and has raised issues regarding which Ayres

Williams, A. A., Cormack, C. L., Chike-Harris, K., Durham, C. O., Fowler, T. O., & Jensen, E. A. (2015). Pediatric developmental screenings:

Autism has become an increasingly important public health concern as the number of yearly diagnoses of the disorder has increased since the late 20th century. The National Institute of Health estimates that 1 in 88 children in the United States are classified as having an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (NINDS, 2009), a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs children 's ability to learn and causes issues with social interaction and communication. Symptoms of ASD include delays in speech and language, issues with social interaction, and unusual behaviors/routines.

In the United States, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that between 1 in 80 and 1 in 240, for an average of 1 in 110 children have an autism spectrum disorder, “ASD” (Nirv, Shah 2011). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, up to six out of every 1,000 children may be diagnosed with some form of autism. In addition, boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism. This means that as many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism. Unfortunately, the numbers appear to be increasing rapidly. Autism is a disability that frequently appears during the first three years of life. It is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the

Currently, autism is usually diagnosed by a series of questionnaires, observations, information from parents, carers, or relatives, since there is no medical test for autism currently available, however, there are some new methods being researched that are shown to be quite effective at detecting autism in infants from 14 months old, such as “eye gaze tracking”3. There are also various studies on genetic tests for autism, as some individuals with autism have genetic “risk factors” that can be screened

Over the past twenty years, researchers on Autism have made notable findings in comprehending prevalence rates and creating accurate assessments to gather current diagnostic criterion. A significant increase in the prevalence rate of ASD has led researchers to make further inquiries about the precision of the tests used to assist in the diagnosis of autism.

There are many evidence – based assessment tools that are used when diagnosing children who demonstrate symptoms of ASD. However, this paper will outline two assessment tools used when identifying ASD. One intervention used for assessing children with ASD is called the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R). The second assessment tool is Autism Diagnostic and Observation Schedule (ADOS).

The results of a study designed to identify children previously undiagnosed with ASD was presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). This study finds that, with little effort, daycare and preschool teachers can effectively screen children for ASD. Teachers were asked to complete the Social Communication Questionnaire or the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) form. These checklists are used to identify children who are at high risk for

For most of the 20th century, scientists were not equipped with the technology while parents were not fully aware of the social, behavioral, and communicative challenges associated with children having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Abnormal symptoms, ranging from repetitive behaviors to developmental and social disabilities, were previously diagnosed as other neurological or psychological disorders such as schizophrenia (Meyer 2011). The spectrum is an umbrella term for 5 recognized subtypes (Marchant 2009). Despite the fact, awareness together with support has grown over the years, the rate of autism has grown

Diagnosing children with any disorder is difficult, due to the fact that development occurs rapidly in the first years of a child’s life in social, emotional, and cognitive areas (Barlow & Durand, 2012). A child’s development can be influenced in many ways, such as socioeconomically or by how emotionally supportive the parent is (Combs-Orme, Orme, & Lefmann, 2013). Diagnosing children with specific disorders proves to be more difficult considering the overlap of symptoms that occurs between the conditions (Phetrasuwan, Miles, Mesibov, & Robinson, 2009). Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a category of disorders that characterizes those with severe impairments in social

Recently, there has been an increased focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) as it becomes more prevalent in the United States. Since ASD is

Autism was first described in U.S. and European medical journals in the 1940’s but was thought to be a very rare condition. It is now known that the condition is much more prevalent than initially thought and is the second most common developmental disability in the United States (Newschaffer, Croen, Daniels, Giarelli, and Grether, 2007). Autism is not a disease but rather a syndrome with both genetic and non-genetic causes. It is classified by the impairment of 3 behavioral domains: the first is social interactions, second is language and communication, and the last is range of interest and activities (Muhle, Trentacoste, Rapin, 2004). There is no biological test to truly diagnose the disorder, so professionals must rely on a number of criteria

In 2011, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that on average, 1 in 10 children each year are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (Hunt & Marshall, 2012, p. 304). However, the number of children diagnosed with autism in recent years is