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Autism Screening Practices in Preschools and Early Childcare Centers: A Systematic Review

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Abstract

Average age of autism diagnosis exceeds four years (Maenner et al., 2020), delaying access to services and limiting early developmental research (Zwaigenbaum et al., 2015; Fletcher-Watson et al., 2017). Autism screening in early childhood settings may be a tool for enabling earlier, equitable diagnosis. This systematic review investigated the landscape of autism screening in preschools/childcare centers. Thirty-one studies were identified (7 studies on classroom observations; 22 on teacher-report questionnaires, 2 others). Questionnaires completed by early childcare staff and observational screening methods administered directly in early childcare settings showed evidence of reliability and validity. Many approaches provided information not gleaned from other reports and corresponded well with diagnostic decisions. Implications for future research are discussed.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, VA, 24060, Blacksburg, US

    Elizabeth A. DeLucia & Janey Dike

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, WY, 82071, Laramie, US

    Theresa M. Andrzejewski & Christina G. McDonnell

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DeLucia, E.A., Dike, J., Andrzejewski, T.M. et al. Autism Screening Practices in Preschools and Early Childcare Centers: A Systematic Review. Rev J Autism Dev Disord 11, 1–20 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-022-00323-9

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