Problem: The criteria for early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its discrimination from other developmental problems (ODP) are not clear. The Social Attention and Communication Study, which identified methods for early identification of ASD in community settings, was modified to the Japanese situation, and we examined its discriminant validity.
Methods: This study followed a cohort of newborns in one town for 4 years. Structured behavioral assessments were added to the standardized health examination and performed five times during toddlerhood. Of the 264 children included in the statistical analysis, four were diagnosed with ASD, and four were diagnosed with ODP.
Findings: A canonical discrimination analysis indicated two significant functions. Canonical 1, which involved disturbances of "eye contact" at 27 months and "concept comprehension" at 38 months, characterized both ASD and ODP. Canonical 2, which involved disturbances of "response name call" at 15 months, "showing" at 27 months, and negative loading of vocabulary development at 20 months, discriminated between ASD and ODP. The canonical plot showed good separation, but a few cases were misclassified.
Conclusions: Evaluations of early behavioral signs by public health nurses during general toddler examinations could be useful and convenient.
Keywords: neurodevelopmental disorders; public health nurse; toddler.
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.