A new rating scale for infants and toddlers ages 2 to 36 months of age created by the authors of DIAL-3  



POINT Provides Early Identification of Autistic-like Behaviors

Early identification of children with autism can lead to prompt treatment. The rapid growth in the number of children diagnosed with autism has been highlighted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and pediatricians have been urged to screen all children for this condition.

As noted in the POINT Manual: According to the Autism Research Institute (n.d.), children who exhibit the following symptoms should be screened immediately: failure to make eye contact, lack of interest in conversing, failure to use the word I, resistance to being cuddled or hugged, indifference to pain, no interest in others, or repetitive or obsessive behavior. Cicci (1995) lists the following as important socioemotional milestones: responding visually to objects and people in the environment and enjoy being held; they should not tense their bodies when held. Other risk factors include pushing adults away, showing no interest in people, or never being still and never seeming to be satisfied. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has developed a list of 20 early signs of autistic-like behaviors. POINT items address 19 of the 20 signs.

Beginning at age 2 months, POINT screening forms contain from 6 to 12 questions designed to identify autistic-like behaviors. When answered in a negative manner, as shown below, they indicate that the child being screened may have autistic tendencies.


Autistic-like Behavior Items on POINT Record Forms

Does this baby/toddler/child              Appears on Record FormsYes/Almost/AlwaysSometimesNo/Almost Never/Not Yet
look at your face when held? 1&2     X
look to see where you are while playing? 1~3     X
seem interested in other children? 1~3     X
adjust to change easily? 1~4     X
enjoy being cuddled and hugged? 1~4     X
accept comfort from you when upset or afraid? 1~6     X
stop what (s)he is doing when you call his/her name? 2~3    X
make sounds such as mama or ta-ta, as if talking to you? 2~3     X
hold out hands to be picked up? 2~4    X
look to where you are looking or pointing? 3~5     X
point with finger to show objects to you or others? 4~5    X
obey your warnings such as no, hot, or don't do that? 4~6    X
grab anything within reach without concern for danger? 4~6X     
bang head on the floor, the wall, or the bed? 4~6X    
show concern for someone who is crying? 4~6    X
want everything to stay the same such as same routines or foods? 5~6X     
accept unexpected changes in the daily routine? 5~6     X
use objects in play such as pretending a spoon is a phone? 5~6     X
have trouble sitting still? 5~6X     
identify familiar objects by pointing, when asked to find them? 6     X
carry on a give and take conversation, using words? 6     X

As a reminder: POINT is a screening tool. It is not a diagnostic test. The results of a POINT screening that indicate autistic behavior need to be followed-up with further diagnostic testing by a pediatrician or other qualified medical professional.


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