Helping Children Meet Their Full Potential Faster
Early detection and diagnosis of ASD is important to ensure that the child begins therapy as soon as possible. This leads to qualitative outcomes for the child and the family in the long run. There are however some myths that surround screening for ASD or other developmental disorders that need to be debunked. Below are listed some common myths on ASD screening that are circulating, and the truths related to them.
Myth no. 1 – Absence of adequate screening tools for pre-schoolers.
Truth – This is no longer true today. Robust screening tools are available. Many screening tools have sensitivities & specificities greater than 70%.
Myth no. 2 – Screening can only be done by highly trained professionals
Truth – Screening can be conducted by paraprofessionals and BCBAs. It doesn’t require extensive training or a specific educational background.
Myth no. 3 – Screening is time consuming.
Truth – Some screening tools take less than 15 minutes to administer.
Myth no. 4 – Tools that source information from parents is not valid.
Truth - Parents concerns are generally valid and are predictive of developmental delays. Research has shown that parental concerns detect 70%-80% of children with developmental disorders.
