LAUSR

Materials and Methods: A total of 163 children between the age of 16-30 months were screened using Urdu TM translated version of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F ). Those who screened positive on MCHAT-R were assessed using Childhood Autism Rating Scale-2 (CARS 2) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5) as diagnostic tools. Results: Among the 163 children screened with MCHAT, 33 were found positive for autism. The positive individuals were further assessed on CARS-2 and DSM-5; five children were diagnosed with ASD at moderate to severe level. This study has shown that 3% of children visiting the hospital for various reasons suffer from ASD. Conclusion: This study concluded that 3% of the children coming to the hospital for any purpose were found to have ASD. There is a need to make Level 1 screening an essential part of regular check-ups of children in Paediatrics outpatient clinics.