Title:The Screening Program for Autism Spectrum Disorders in the West of Iran
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Author(s): Ensiyeh Jenabi, Saeid Bashirian*, Salman Khazaei, Sepideh Zareian, Ronak Hamzehei, Katayoon Razjouyan, Hadi Zarafshan, Mahdieh Seyedi, Shahla Nouri, Mohammad Rezaei, Zahra Moradi Pourghavam and Narges Babakhani
Affiliation:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorders, diagnostic screening program, screening, ASQ-18, ADI-R, M-CHAT.
Abstract: Background: There are few epidemiological data regarding the autism spectrum
disorders (ASD) screening program in Iran, and as yet, screening for children at the age of
18 months has not been performed.
Aim: The present study aimed to perform a screening program for children with ASD in
Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted for screening children with ASD. The
age and stages Questionnaire-18 (ASQ-18) month questionnaire was sent to all parents of
children via a mobile-based application.The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (MCHAT)
questionnaire was mailed if the child's score was below the cutoff. For those with
positive M-CHATs, the M-CHAT/F Follow-up interview was performed. Finally, children
with ASD, according to The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and examination,
were diagnosed.
Results: Of these children, 1221 (48%) were girls and 1341 (52%) were boys. Of the parent
respondents, 232 (9%) children had a positive ASQ-18 questionnaire. For this purpose, the MCHAT
was sent to the parents of these children. Of the 232 children with ASQ positive, 179
(77.1%) parents completed M-CHAT. On the M-CHAT, 43 (24.0%) children screened positive
and 136 (76.0%) children passed on M-CHAT-R screening. In this stage of the 43 screenpositive
children, health care providers asked parents to refer to their children for performing
the M-CHAT at follow up. For a total of 33 children, the M-CHAT follow-up was performed.
Of these samples, 7 children had positive M-CHAT follow-up. Therefore, ADI-R was conducted
for these children to diagnose ASD. In the end, based on ADI-R and diagnostic evaluation
performed by the child and adolescent psychologists, 7 children had ASD.
Conclusion: The findings of the present study show that a mobile-based application can be
utilized for screening children at risk of ASD. Therefore, we suggest that the application be
used for screening children with ASD.
