Study paves way for earlier autism diagnosis

A 2020 report from the CDC estimates that 1 in 54 children in the United States is diagnosed annually with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Although ASD can be identified as early as age 2, most diagnoses occur after age 4.

_{This post contains affiliate links.}

Indiana University School of Medicine Study Advances Early Autism Diagnosis Statewide

A team led by Dr. Nancy Swigonski and Dr. Mary Ciccarelli at Indiana University School of Medicine has developed a statewide early ASD screening and evaluation system within primary care settings. This innovative approach has improved access to evaluations and reduced the age of diagnosis.

Published on July 6 in Pediatrics, this groundbreaking study is the first in the U.S. to encompass healthcare systems across an entire state.

“One of the unique aspects of this effort is its scale. While similar innovative diagnostic approaches have previously been tested across the country, our primary-care based Early Autism Evaluation hubs provide data representing much of the state of Indiana,” said Rebecca McNally Keehn, PhD, HSPP, lead author on the Pediatrics study.

“By improving access to earlier high-quality diagnostic evaluations in children’s local communities, our hope is that children will be enrolled in evidence-based interventions that can improve developmental outcomes here in Indiana.”

From 2012 to 2018, the Early Autism Evaluation (EAE) hubs across Indiana evaluated over 2,000 patients, with 33 percent receiving an ASD diagnosis. The average age of diagnosis at these hubs is 30 months, far earlier than the national average of 48-plus months. Additionally, the average wait time for evaluations at EAE hubs was 62 days, compared to the 9-to-12-month wait times previously reported at specialty diagnostic centers.

“This system empowers communities to be able to provide life-changing diagnostic services locally, drastically altering the trajectory of development in children who previously remained without diagnoses until age 5 or older,” said Naseer Syed, MD, pediatrician at Meridian Health Services in Muncie, Indiana.

“To actively be a part of something that life-changing is a reward in and of itself. To witness the impact this has on the child and their family makes it all worthwhile.”

A key strength of the EAE hubs is the collaboration between organizations and professionals across Indiana, ensuring families receive the care they need. More than 30 primary care physicians and nurse practitioners statewide have been trained by EAE hub leadership to conduct specialized ASD evaluations. This training enables providers to identify at-risk children during a 90-minute primary care visit and work with referring physicians to connect families with interventions and community resources.

The EAE hub system was developed and evaluated with support from Riley Children’s Foundation and the Kiwanis Indiana Three Wishes Campaign, along with additional funding from Project LAUNCH, the Indiana State Department of Health, and ECCS CoIIN.

Materials provided by Indiana University School of Medicine. Materials may be edited for content and length.