Families with high-risk characteristics and diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and learning disability in children: A national birth cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundA national birth cohort study was used to investigate whether high-risk family factors at 1.5-year-olds can increase the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis when children reach 5.5 years. The pathway relationship of high-risk family factors, children's developmental conditions, risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and diagnosis of intellectual disability (ID), learning disability (LD), and ASD was also investigated.MethodsThe 1.5-, 3- and 5.5-year-old Taiwan Birth Cohort Study (TBCS) dataset was used (N = 19,185). The high-risk familial factor was measured using five questions assessing whether parents are currently unmarried, unemployed, do not have any social insurance, perceive a “very heavy” economic childcare burden, and at least one of the parents has a disability certification. Developmental conditions were assessed using the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study—Developmental Instrument (TBCS-DI), and ASD risk was measured using the Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers. Data on ADHD, ID, LD, and ASD diagnoses were collected at age 5.5. The odds ratio model investigated whether children from families with high-risk factors at 1.5-years were at increased risk of ADHD, ID, LD, or ASD diagnosis at 5.5-years, compared to those children from families without such risks. Structural equation modeling investigated the logistic regression pathway relationship of high-risk familial characteristics, children's developmental conditions, autism screening, and diagnosis.ResultsIn the national birth cohort dataset of 19,185 children, 2070 (10.8%) met at least one of the high-risk familial factors. Children who met one high-risk familial factor had a 1.21-fold increased risk for ADHD diagnosis, 1.36-fold increased risk for LD diagnosis, and 1.80-fold increased risk for ASD diagnosis, compared to children from families without risks. High-risk familial factors directly increased the risk of ADHD and ID diagnosis, and indirectly increased the risk of ADHD, ID, LD, and ASD diagnosis through the mediating factor of children's development.ConclusionsChildren who met more high-risk familial characteristics were at higher risk of ADHD, ID, LD, and ASD diagnosis. Development at three years was predictive of diagnosis at 5.5 years. Thus, developmental screening at age three is vital for interventions. Preventive, family-focused, and/or child-rearing services for at-risk families are important for improving outcomes for these children and their families.

Estimating the Risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Parents of Children with ADHD and the Association with Their Children’s Disease Severity and Adherence to Medication

“…Lower scores are associated with better or more positive outcomes. For academic performance, the mean scores were 11.49 (SD: 3.04, range: [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Behavioural issues at school or 'school behaviour' had the highest score with a mean of 12.78 (SD: 4.13, range: 4-22).…”

“…Previous studies have reported that up to half of the children with ADHD have a parent with ADHD [ 2 , 13 ]. High risk familial factors directly increase the risk of ADHD diagnosis through the mediating factor of children’s development [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Association of Parental Support with Reduced Stereotypy in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The presence of both parents in a stable relationship or married is necessary for the better development of the children. The presence of parents can assist in the development of appropriate interventions to further support the children [ 28 ]. In several aspects, the presence of parents is necessary, as demonstrated by Crane et al [ 29 ] with autistic parents who found it easier to talk to their children about of patient with ASD and how to face life.…”

Evolution of a System to Monitor Infant Neuromotor Development in the Home: Lessons from COVID-19

“…There are other cases as well where parents may also experience a sense of risk despite an apparently typical pregnancy and birth. Parents of infants who have a sibling with a diagnosed developmental impairment, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fall into this category based on suggested familial risk [ 6 ]. As is the current clinical thinking relative to CP, detection of signs of ASD as early as possible [ 7 , 8 ] facilitates the introduction of interventions most likely to be effective in maximizing positive outcomes.…”