Developmental screening

A brief, standardized assessment process used to identify infants and young children who may be at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder. Common screening instruments include the Checklist of Autism in Toddlers (CHAT), the Screening Tool for Autism in Two-Year-Olds (STAT), and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ). These tools typically rely on parent reports and professional behavioral observation, and are designed to flag children who need comprehensive diagnostic evaluation by a multidisciplinary team. Emerging computational approaches, such as automated analysis of infant vocalizations, eye gaze tracking, and movement analysis, aim to complement traditional screening with more objective, quantitative methods that could enable earlier and more reliable detection.