biostudies-literatureSturner RNICHD NIH HHSnational institute of mental healthNIMH NIH HHS3065-3076https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10214166biostudies-literatureUnknown53(8)Prior studies suggest autism-specific and general developmental screens are complementary for identifying both autism and developmental delay (DD). Parents completed autism and developmental screens before 18-month visits. Children with failed screens for autism (n = 167) and age, gender, and practice-matched children passing screens (n = 241) completed diagnostic evaluations for autism and developmental delay. When referral for autism and/or DD was considered, overall false positives from the autism screens were less frequent than for referral for autism alone. Presence of a failed communication subscale in the developmental screen was a red flag for autism and/or DD. An ordinally-scored autism screen had more favorable characteristics when considering autism and/or DD, yet none of the scJournal of autism and developmental disordersDo Autism-Specific and General Developmental Screens Have Complementary Clinical Value?PMC10214166R44 HD104973R44MH085399.R44 MH085399Howard BStewart-Artz LAttar SSturner RBergmann PBet KfalseDo Autism-Specific and General Developmental Screens Have Complementary Clinical Value?Prior studies suggest autism-specific and general developmental screens are complementary for identifying both autism and developmental delay (DD). Parents completed autism and developmental screens before 18-month visits. Children with failed screens for autism (n = 167) and age, gender, and practice-matched children passing screens (n = 241) completed diagnostic evaluations for autism and developmental delay. When referral for autism and/or DD was considered, overall false positives from the autism screens were less frequent than for referral for autism alone. Presence of a failed communication subscale in the developmental screen was a red flag for autism and/or DD. An ordinally-scored autism screen had more favorable characteristics when considering autism and/or DD, yet none of the sc2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Aug2025-04-22T15:05:19.632Z2025-04-06T01:18:23.794ZS-EPMC102141663557979110.1007/s10803-022-05541-y