Objectives: We created the Social Awareness Knowledge Test (SAKT) to evaluate and screen for skills delayed in toddlers with ASD. We present here preliminary data on the performance of the SAKT in affected toddlers. We are reviewing complete data in December 2011.
Methods: The 9 testlets of the SAK detect social communication skills delayed in toddlers with ASD: joint attention; response to name; reaction to emotions and human agency. Each testlet is coded from 0-4 (typical to atypical) from which a total score is generated. Administration and scoring take 10 minutes. A 4-session, 90-minute training module was developed and pilot tested with a multidisciplinary team in our specialty clinic. The training module consisted of observation, scoring of videos of SAKT assessments, and group discussion of scoring results. The initial 7 testlets (version A) were expanded to 9 testlets (version B) for improved precision. In parallel, the SAK was piloted in a toddler autism evaluation project that follows progress every 6 months. The SAKT and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)-Module 1 were administered at 2 visits by the same examiner; these were videotaped to be scored by an independent reviewer. We calculated correlation coefficients using Spearman s rho statistic of total scores from both versions of the SAKT with the ADOS. (See table)
Results: Forty-three toddlers were tested: 37 boys and 6 girls, aged 16 to 32 months (mean: 25.2 months). Ethnicity: 45.23% Hispanic or mixed Hispanic and Caucasian; 52.3% Caucasian; 2.38% African American. Masshealth was the primary insurance in 76.2%. Both versions of the SAKT were significantly correlated with the ADOS.
Conclusions: We present promising preliminary data on the validation of a 10-minute interactive test to detect ASD in toddlers, following a short and easy training.
SAKT Correlations with the ADOS-1
| SAKT A | SAKT B | |
| Visit 1 | N= 25 | N= 18 |
| r=0.55; p<0.001 | r=0.70; p=0.001 | |
| Visit 2 | N= 3 | N=13 |
| r=0.87; p<0.001 |
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