Roula N. Choueiri, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, will join others on April 7 at the Massachusetts State House to celebrate Autism Spectrum Awareness and Acceptance Day.
The event, hosted by the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism and Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts, is meant to spotlight some of the health care initiatives available to those on the spectrum, according to Michael Borr, AFAM chairman.
Dr. Choueiri, chief of the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, developed a rapid intervention screening test for autism spectrum disorder in toddlers, designed to improve early identification and access to treatment.
In a The Journal of Pediatrics article, Choueiri, a neurodevelopmental disabilities pediatrician, and Sheldon Wagner, PhD, director of Behavior, Development and Educational Services Inc., wrote that the new screening, through a series of interactive play-type tests, showed a high sensitivity and specificity when used to screen children 18 to 36 months old in general pediatric and early intervention settings.
Related links on UMassMedNow:
UMMS pediatrician develops improved rapid screening test for autism in toddlers
New ASD test can lead to earlier treatment, better outcome, UMMS pediatrician tells WCVB-TV
Expert’s Corner: Roula Choueiri, MD, on detecting autism spectrum disorders
