Not Enough Evidence for Routine Autism Screening in Young Kids, Says USPSTF

By Kristin J. Kelley

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against screening young children (under 3 years old) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in primary care settings. The grade I (insufficient evidence) draft statement pertains to asymptomatic children whose parents or clinicians haven't raised concerns about ASD or developmental delay.

The USPSTF calls for more studies comprising younger children in order to determine whether early diagnosis leads to improved health outcomes.

Other groups (e.g., the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society) recommend routine developmental surveillance of young children at well visits, with those failing this surveillance to be subsequently screened for autism. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics calls for universal screening for ASD in all children, at age 18 months and again at 24 months.