Simple Checklist Used By Doctors To Diagnose Autism In Infants

A questionnaire can help doctors determine if babies need early treatment.

ByABC News
April 28, 2011, 2:40 PM

April 28, 2011— -- New research suggests that a five-minute survey for parents could detect signs of autism spectrum disorders in babies as young as one. Currently, screening methods allow doctors to determine if a child 18 months and older has a disorder.

The survey asks 24 questions that assess babies' movement, sounds and eye focus, among other things. It has so far allowed researchers to diagnose autism spectrum disorders correctly 75 percent of the time.

Click here for more on how the autism checklist came about.

Visit the Brookes Publishing website to download a copy of the checklist.

Below are the categories and questions that are included in the survey developed by Amy M. Wetherby and Barry M. Prizant.