两分钟的简单测试或有助于发现你的孩子是否患有自闭症
Over 700,000 people in the UK are on the autism spectrum - that's a lot of people and families for whom it's a part of everyday life. However, for parents who believe their child may be affected by autism, getting a diagnosis isn't always easy. Firstly, the symptoms can be difficult detect in a child under three-years-old and typically, a diagnosis aren't made until a child is about five. However, a test has been developed to help parents and doctors identify the signs earlier - when the child is still a toddler. Psychological Development Questionnaire (PDQ-1) has been put together by Rutgers University, and researchers say it can spot autism 88 per cent of the time, The Sun reports. The test asked parents to look at whether their child gestures to show interest or get attention, responds to their name, enjoys playing peek-a-boo, speaks in phrases and relates to others. Low scores typically occurred when a parent got more "no" answers than "yes" answers. Children who got low PDQ-1 scores were thought to be potentially on the spectrum, and were then referred for evaluation to determine if this was the case. The study looked at 1959 children aged between 18 and 36 months, all of whom are believed to have no developmental issues. Lead author Walter Zahorodny, a professor in paediatrics at the university, said: "The availability of valid and efficient screeners, like the PDQ-1, may enhance our ability to detect ASD in young children and expand the number of youngsters receiving early intervention." However he also added: "Diagnosis of autism can only be accomplished through comprehensive evaluation by a professional. "Effective screening is but the first step toward diagnosis. If we want to improve early detection, easy-to-use and reliable autism screeners need to be widely used." |