Enhancing Early Detection: Improving Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Processes

Authors

Emilio GrayFollow

Document Type

Honors Project

Comments

This project was advised by professor Jaine Strauss

Abstract

Early identification and intervention of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been well-established as extremely important for developmental outcomes, as the most efficacious treatments for the disorder occur prior to five years of age (McCarty & Frye, 2020). In this paper, divided into two chapters, I examine potential changes to the ASD diagnostic process to aid the goal of early intervention.

In Chapter 1, I discuss how modifications to current gold-standard diagnostic tools could help with this goal. Efforts to improve early detection and intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have led to the development of screening and diagnostic tools such as M-CHAT-R, ADOS, and ADEC. However, despite the progress in this field, the average diagnostic age remains significantly older than optimal (McCarty & Frye, 2020). This literature review delves into the limitations of existing tools and proposes modifications aimed at enhancing early detection, such as revising scoring systems, incorporating assessments for motor issues, and improving cohesion between screening and diagnosis.

In Chapter 2, I expand upon how utilizing the motor domain in the ASD diagnostic process could aid early detection. While research has consistently demonstrated a link between ASD and delays in the motor domain, the mainstream screening practices often neglect motor considerations. Specific trends in infant motor development, such as balance (Odeh et al., 2020), gait, and postural control (Fulceri et al., 2019), have been identified as predictive of ASD diagnosis. Moreover, motor difficulties have been found to impact outcomes in domains core to ASD itself (Libertus & Violi, 2016; Iverson et al., 2018). Yet, less than 1% of individuals with ASD receive clinical recognition for motor impairments, and even fewer receive targeted therapeutic interventions (Bhat, 2020; Licari et al., 2019). Incorporating motor assessment into current screening practices and modifying diagnostic labeling to include motor concerns could improve early recognition of ASD.

Recommended Citation

Gray, Emilio, "Enhancing Early Detection: Improving Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Processes" (2024). Psychology Honors Projects. 57.
https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/psychology_honors/57