Four Screening Questions Physicians should Ask

One out of 150 children in the USA has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For this reason, all primary care physicians should screen for this condition.

At every visit from nine months old, physicians should ask these questions:

• Does the child have an older sibling with ASD? If yes, the risk for autism is increased by 10 times.
• Is the parent concerned that their child might have ASD?
• Is there another caregiver concerned that the child might have ASD?
• Am I (the clinician) suspect that the child might have ASD?

If the answers to these questions are all no, continue the surveillance at each office visit till 24 months old where in most children with ASD will be identified.
Source Pediatric News, November 2007, page 13.

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