The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in healthy children.

In a draft recommendation, USPSTF notes there is inadequate direct evidence of the benefits of screening in toddlers and preschoolers. It also found weak evidence of treatment efficacy of ASD cases that were detected via screening.

The draft recommendation runs counter to that of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which has issued a statement urging timely screening and identification of children who would benefit from early intervention and treatment. AAP notes that research indicates that early intervention can improve a child’s long-term development and social behavior.

However, USPSTF says that studies were very small and most were not randomized. They included children older than those who would be identified by screening. Plus all the children were referred, and thus not screen-detected patients.

USPSTF is taking public comments on its draft through August 31, 2015.

Citation: Draft Recommendation Statement: Autism Spectrum Disorder in Young Children: Screening. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. August 2015. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/draft-recommendation-statement15/autism-spectrum-disorder-in-young-children-screening.