Age range for autism-specific screening tool recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics?

Age range for autism-specific screening tool recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics?

• A. 18-24 months
• B. 12-18 months
• C. 24-36 months
• D. 3-5 years

Answer: (A)

Early autism-specific screening is recommended at the 18- and 24-month well-child visits. This timing is chosen because signs of autism often become more detectable as social-communication milestones emerge, and doing the screening at these two nearby visits allows for timely follow-up and intervention if concerns arise. The most widely used autism screener, the M-CHAT-R/F, is validated for children in roughly the 16–30 month window, with the standard practice focusing on the 18–24 month ages as the universal screening points. Screening outside this window—earlier than 18 months or later than 24–36 months—is not aligned with the routine national recommendation for autism-specific screening, though ongoing developmental surveillance continues at every visit.

Early autism-specific screening is recommended at the 18- and 24-month well-child visits. This timing is chosen because signs of autism often become more detectable as social-communication milestones emerge, and doing the screening at these two nearby visits allows for timely follow-up and intervention if concerns arise. The most widely used autism screener, the M-CHAT-R/F, is validated for children in roughly the 16–30 month window, with the standard practice focusing on the 18–24 month ages as the universal screening points. Screening outside this window—earlier than 18 months or later than 24–36 months—is not aligned with the routine national recommendation for autism-specific screening, though ongoing developmental surveillance continues at every visit.