Screening and diagnostic tools for autism spectrum disorder utilized in the Indian Subcontinent: a scoping review

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) identification procedures vary across countries. The purpose of this study is to review the screening and diagnostic procedures for ASD in one of the most populated regions of the world (the Indian Subcontinent). A scoping literature search identified studies related to screening and/or diagnosis of ASD in the Indian Subcontinent. Our search resulted in the consideration of 907 reports (596 reports from the database search & 311 reports from the citation search); 13 of which met the inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that the western Gold Standard diagnostic tools ADOS-2 and ADI-R are seldom used in the Indian Subcontinent. The most frequently used western diagnostic tool is CARS. There is much research and emphasis being put on development of culturally appropriate, easy to administer and cost-effective tools in local languages that can help to improve the identification process of ASD in these regions. Implications drawn from the research are provided.