Community Screening for ASD in Early Intervention Settings

Professionals from diverse professional backgrounds §participated in training about early§detection of autism spectrum disorders. The results§showed that professionals will use an §autism screen once they are taught how to use§a screen. Practitioners reported that they were more §likely to use an autism screen if a child exhibited §developmental concerns. A major policy implication §of the study is that some pediatricians in Bermuda§do not view developmental screening or autism §screening as a part of their professional§responsibility. Unfortunately, children from birth §to 23 months are often not developmentally§screened by a pediatrician. A parent often has to §wait two or more years for their child to receive a §developmental screen by a professional. To combat §this delay in time, families with ample financial §resources will often travel to the U.S. or Canada to §obtain screening for ASD and to possibly receive a §diagnosis for their child. This creates several §problems including a drain of finances, a loss of §time, and a loss of access to early intervention. §These issues can be addressed by training §professionals to recognize the signs for ASD.