Health
Need for Early Detection of children with Autism spectrum disorders
By Pankaj, US Correspondent
Feb 25, 2005, 16:49

"As an epidemiologist, I feel it is essential to work towards understand-ing the underlying cause of autism spectrum disorder, for which there is no effective medical prevention or cure," Dr. Pinto-Martin said. "Uncovering the reasons for the rise and prevalence of ASD is one critically important first-step for medical research."

As part of her efforts to study autism, of Dr. Pinto-Martin has pioneered a screening program for toddlers designed to detect children at risk for autism as early as 18 months. The program relies on a standardized parental ques-tionnaire given by nurses in doctors' offices and has proven helpful in identi-fying children who need further evaluation by a developmental pediatrician to determine if they have autism.

"If we can screen children as part of a routine health check, we could find autism earlier so that interventions can be initiated sooner and more suc-cessfully," Dr. Pinto-Martin said.

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