POEMs Research Summaries Update: ASD Screening

POEMs Research Summaries Your Daily Update for the Latest Patient Oriented Evidence that Matters

USPSTF: No recommendation for autism spectrum disorder screening in children aged 18-30 months Clinical Question Should we screen for autism spectrum disorder in children aged 18 to 30 months? Bottom Line The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks of screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children aged 18 months to 30 months (I statement) for whom no concerns of ASD have been raised by their parents or care providers. (LOE = 2a-) Reference Siu AL; US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for autism spectrum disorder in young children: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA 2016;315(7):691-696. Study Design: Practice guideline Funding: Government Setting: Outpatient (any) Allocation: Unknown Synopsis The USPSTF found evidence that currently available screening tests can detect ASD among children aged 18 to 30 months. However, citing a lack of direct evidence on the benefits of screening for ASD in toddlers and preschool-aged children for whom no concerns of ASD have been raised by family members, other caregivers, or health care professionals, the USPSTF concludes there is insufficient evidence to recommend screening for this population. The task force also found that the harms of screening for ASD and subsequent interventions are likely to be small; thus the I statement (the balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined and patients should understand the uncertainty). The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to recommend universal screening for ASD in all children at ages 18 and 24 months along with developmental surveillance and monitoring. The American Academy of Family Physicians concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for ASD in children for whom no concerns of ASD have been raised. David Slawson, MD Director of Information Sciences University of Virginia Health System

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