LAUSR

Key Points Question Can a developmental surveillance approach be used to train professionals to accurately identify infants, toddlers, and preschoolers on the autism spectrum? Findings In this diagnostic accuracy study including 13 511 children aged 11 to 42 months, maternal and child health nurses were trained to use the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance–Revised (SACS-R) and SACS-Preschool (SACS-PR) tools during well-child checkups at 11 to 30 months of age and at follow-up (at 42 months of age). Those children identified as being at high likelihood for autism underwent diagnostic assessments; results indicated the SACS-R with SACS-PR (SACS-R+PR) had very high diagnostic accuracy for early autism detection. Meaning Results of this study suggest that the SACS-R+PR population-based developmental surveillance program may be used universally for the early identification of autism.