Unavailability of Screening Tool for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Indian Context

Abstract

s a neurodevelopmental disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents with "persistent deficits in social communication, social interaction, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities". 1 In India, about 2.3 million children are affected with ASD. 2 However, India lacks comprehensive screening tools covering all age groups, as existing tools only serve a minimum of 1.5 years to a maximum of 18 years of age. [3][4][5] Another recently developed parent-child social-emotional reciprocity questionnaire, i.e., the Nayak SER Questionnaire (NSERQ), is also meant for 3-10 years age. 6 Research indicates the existence of firsttime reported cases of ASD in adults, 7 accentuated by ignorance and limited treatment access. Mental health professionals struggle with diagnosis due to classification systems focusing on childhood symptoms, for example, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (DSM-5). 1 In ORCID iD