The screen for social interaction (SSI): A screening measure for autism spectrum disorders in preschoolers

We report on the preliminary validity and utility of the Ghuman–Folstein Screen for Social Interaction (SSI), a measure of social interaction that can serve to screen for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in clinical samples of young high-risk children. Caregivers of 350 children (176 younger participants, ages 24–42 months, mean age = 34.1 months; and 174 older participants, ages 43 to 61 months, mean age = 52.4 months) with ASDs, non-ASD developmental and/or psychiatric disorders, or without developmental concerns completed the SSI. A series of analyses resulted in shortened versions of the SSI: a 26-item SSI-Younger (SSI-Y) and a 21-item SSI-Older (SSI-O) version. The SSI-Y and SSI-O showed moderate convergence with ASD diagnostic measures and significantly differentiated ASD and non-ASD clinical groups. Sensitivity and specificity values for discriminating ASD and non-ASD clinical participants were 0.87 and 0.71, respectively for the SSI-Y and 0.81 and 0.70, respectively for the SSI-O. Scoring recommendations were made based on the ROC results.

► Caregivers of 350 preschoolers (ages 24–61 months) with ASDs, non-ASD developmental and/or psychiatric disorders, or without developmental concerns completed the Ghuman–Folstein Screen for Social Interaction (SSI). ► Two shortened versions were derived for younger (SSI-Y) and older (SSI-O) children. ► The SSI-Y and SSI-O showed moderate convergence with ASD diagnostic measures and significantly differentiated ASD and non-ASD clinical groups. ► Sensitivity was 0.87 and 0.81, and specificity was0.71 and 0.70, respectively for the SSI-Y and SSI-O.