Age of Parental Concern, Diagnosis, and Service Initiation among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) require substantial support to address the core symptoms of ASD and co-occurring behavioral/developmental conditions. This study explores the early diagnostic experiences of school-aged children with ASD using survey data from a large probability-based national sample. Multivariate linear regressions were used to examine age when parent reported developmental concern to doctor, received ASD diagnosis, and first obtained services. Children whose parents had concerns about their child's verbal communication reported earlier ages for all outcomes when compared to children of parents who did not have verbal communication concerns. Children whose parents had concerns about their child's nonverbal communication or unusual gestures/movements received an earlier diagnosis than children whose parents did not have these specific concerns.