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Two-Step Screening of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers in Thai Children with Language Delay and Typically Developing Children

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Abstract

This study aimed to validate the use of two-step Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) screening adapted for a Thai population. Our participants included both high-risk children with language delay (N = 109) and low-risk children with typical development (N = 732). Compared with the critical scoring criteria, the total scoring method (failing ≥3 items) yielded the highest sensitivity of 90.7 %; specificity was 99.7 %, positive predictive value 96.1 %, and negative predictive value 99.4 %. The two-step M-CHAT screening is a promising instrument that can be utilized to detect ASD in Thai children in both primary and clinical settings. Moreover, socio-cultural context should be considered when adopting the use and interpretation of the M-CHAT for each country.

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Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to all study participants and their families who participated in this study; Associate Professor Chitsanu Pancharoen and Assistant Professor Therdpong Tempark for their help with participant enrollment; Dr. Dhanika Boonma, Dr. Nattaporn Tassanakijpanich, and Dr. Jarujan Subchartanan, developmental and behavioral pediatric fellows at the Division of Growth and Development, Department of Pediatrics for their assistance on the telephone follow-up for those who passed the M-CHAT screening to verify whether participants still have not had the diagnosis of ASD during the period of this study; Ms. Jirachaya Sophonphan for her help on statistical analysis; Dr. Juthamas Worachotekamjorn and Assistant Professor Sureelak Sutchritpongsa for their helpful comments and suggestions on our manuscript; and Sam Ormond who professionally edited this entire manuscript. This study was supported by a grant from Ratchadapiseksompotch Fund, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University (Grant Number: RA 58/004), and partially funded by a grant from the Thailand Research Fund (Grant Number: IRG5780015), Bangkok, Thailand.

Author Contribution

PS participated in the design of the study, data collection, coordination and drafted the manuscript; CP participated in the design, performed the measurement and helped to revise the manuscript; WC conceived of the study, participated in its design, data collection and coordination, performed the measurement, the statistical analysis, interpretation of the data, helped to draft and revise the manuscript critically for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Weerasak Chonchaiya.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional review board and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Srisinghasongkram, P., Pruksananonda, C. & Chonchaiya, W. Two-Step Screening of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers in Thai Children with Language Delay and Typically Developing Children. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 3317–3329 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2876-4

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