Characterizing Available Tools for Synchronous Virtual Assessment of Toddlers with Suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Brief Report

The COVID-19 pandemic, and associated social distancing mandates, has placed significant limitations on in-person health services, requiring creative solutions for supporting clinicians engaged in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This report describes the five virtual instruments available at the time of manuscript development for use by experienced clinicians making diagnostic determinations of ASD for toddlers across the 12- to 36-months age range. We focus on synchronous virtual assessments in which clinicians guide the child's caregiver through a range of assessment activities and observe spontaneous and elicited behaviors. Assessments are compared on dimensions of targeted behavioral domains, specific activities and presses employed, scoring approaches, and other key logistical considerations to guide instrument selection for use in varied clinical and research contexts.

Automated summary

This report discusses five virtual instruments available for diagnosing ASD in toddlers aged 12-36 months during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on synchronous virtual assessments conducted by clinicians guiding caregivers through assessment activities. Comparisons are made on various dimensions to aid instrument selection for clinical and research purposes.