Cutoffs, norms, and patterns of problem behaviors in children with an ASD on the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT-Part 3)

Challenging behaviors are common and persistent in persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Best practices dictate that symptoms of ASD and these co-occurring problems be identified and then treated at the earliest possible age. Having said this, there has been a dearth of available assessment methods to make sure identifications in infants and toddlers, particularly with respect to challenging behaviors. The Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (Part 3) was designed specifically for this purpose. In study one, 312 children between 17 and 37 months and diagnosed with autism or PDD-NOS were individually assessed. Cutoff scores for total and subtest scores were established. In study 2, frequency and patterns of various challenging behaviors were evaluated. The meaning of these data is discussed for toddlers and infants with ASD.