Journal article
What Happens After Autism Screening-Factors That Predict Evaluation Attendance
Journal of autism and developmental disorders
28 Nov 2025
PMID: 41313576
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Purpose Standardized, high-fidelity screening is an effective strategy for early identification of autism. However, studies show that many families do not attend an evaluation following a positive screening result. This study aims to address a critical gap in understanding factors influencing autism evaluation attendance. Methods Children (n = 895) from two large-scale, primary care autism screening studies were invited to attend a diagnostic evaluation based on a screener result indicating higher likelihood for autism. We explored whether evaluation attendance differed based on sex, race, ethnicity, maternal education, or age at the time of screening. In addition, we explored whether screener scores differed between children who attended the evaluation versus those whose families declined. Results Evaluation attendance differed significantly between the two studies, but did not differ significantly within either study based on child's sex, race, ethnicity, or maternal education. The age at which the child was screened was a significant predictor of evaluation attendance, with higher attendance when the first positive screen was at 18 months (57%) compared to 12 months (38%) or 15 months (30%). In addition, children who completed an evaluation had screening scores indicating more autism characteristics compared to children who did not attend an evaluation (all t > 1.798, all p < .038). Conclusion These findings emphasize the role of screening factors while de-emphasizing the role of child demographics on families' attendance following a positive screening result.
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Details
- Title
- What Happens After Autism Screening-Factors That Predict Evaluation Attendance
- Creators
- Andrea Trubanova Wieckowski - Drexel University, A.J. Drexel Autism InstituteMaci Brown - Drexel University, A.J. Drexel Autism InstituteHannah Register - Drexel Univ, AJ Drexel Autism Inst, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USADeborah Fein - University of ConnecticutAubyn C. Stahmer - University of California, DavisLeslie A. Mcclure - Drexel University, Epidemiology and BiostatisticsSarah Dufek - University of California, DavisDiana L. Robins - Drexel University, Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology)
- Publication Details
- Journal of autism and developmental disorders
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- R01MH115715 / National Institute of Mental Health; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) R01HD039961 / Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); Epidemiology and Biostatistics; A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001627712000001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105023540621
- Other Identifier
- 991022133475404721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychology, Developmental