Mapping the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in children aged under 7 years in Australia, 2010–2012

Bent, Catherine A.; Dissanayake, Cheryl; Barbaro, Josephine

doi:10.5694/mja14.00328

Cited by 92 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Between 75% and 100% of children diagnosed under 2 years of age, or between 2 and 3 years of age, have maintained an ASD diagnosis into later childhood (for review, children under 2 years of age: Chawarska et al, 2007;Cox et al, 1999;Guthrie et al, 2013; children between 2 and 3 years of age: Charman et al, 2005;Kleinman et al, 2008;Lord et al, 2006). In Australia, the average age of diagnosis is approximately four years, with a diagnostic trend indicating a peak in diagnostic numbers in children after the age of five (ABS, 2012; Bent, Barbaro & Dissanayake, 2015). This diagnostic trend indicates that a large proportion of children with ASD are being diagnosed later in development, potentially well after initial symptom presentation.…”

Section: What This Topic Adds?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Practitioner Perceptions of the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Australia

Ward

Sullivan

Gilmore

2016

Australian Psychologist

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Objective: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can potentially be diagnosed by 3 years of age. Yet, 2012 Australian diagnostic data showed most children are diagnosed after this age. This study examined whether an ASD diagnostic "gap" exists and explored practitioners' perceptions of the assessment and diagnostic process. Method: Using a modified version of an existing questionnaire, we undertook a national survey of Australian practitioners who assess infants and children with possible ASD (psychologists, n=54; paediatricians, n=42; psychiatrists, n=8). Results: Approximately 63% of practitioners reported most likely recommending an ASD diagnosis in a child 3 years or older. Over 60% of practitioners identified the following factors as influencing their practice in relation to ASD diagnosis in children under 3 years of age: preference for a "watch and wait approach" (92%); the perceived difficulty of the diagnosis (79%); inability to see children early enough because of initial assessment waiting list (75%), and the perceived limitations of diagnostic aids, including assessment measures (63%) and the diagnostic criteria (69%). Variations in assessment and diagnostic practices were reported by the three professional groups. Conclusion: A number of factors may influence the timing of ASD diagnosis for children in Australia and could contribute to a diagnostic "gap." The practitioner-reported challenges suggest potential improvements to the ASD diagnosis process.

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Section: What This Topic Adds?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Practitioner Perceptions of the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Australia

Ward

Sullivan

Gilmore

2016

Australian Psychologist

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“…Therefore, some of the more traditional indicators, such as infant mortality, are perhaps less relevant. In Australia, 14% of the children aged 4–17 years met the criteria for a mental health disorder,12 autism is thought to affect up to 1% of children13 and children with cerebral palsy make up 0.22% of our population 14. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders and physical disabilities have poorer overall health, education and social outcomes yet are not captured in our indicators.…”

Section: Children’s Headline Indicators In Australia: a View From Dowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Themes emerging from State of Child Health: UK and Australia

Blair

2017

Arch Dis Child

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“…In a more recent Australian study, Bent et al (2015) analysed the data of 15 074 children with ASD accessing the HCWA package (all aged under seven years) and found that the average age of diagnosis for these children was 49 months (4 years, 1 month).…”

Section: Autism Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More information on the HCWA program appears later in this chapter. Bent et al (2015) analysed the data of 15 074 children (all aged under seven years) and found that 0.74% of the population had been diagnosed with ASD.…”

Section: Using Data From the Australian Bureau Of Statistics (Abs) Frmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assisting parents of children with autism to make intervention decisions by improving their health literacy about evidence

Grant¹

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Parents of children newly diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are faced with the daunting task of choosing from numerous autism interventions. At the time this research project began, little was understood about how parents made decisions for their child following the diagnosis. A few groups and organisations, in Australia and overseas, have designed and disseminated resources in various formats to help parents with decision making, but none had been evaluated in a clinical trial that tested the effectiveness of the resource in facilitating this process. Based on a review of the literature, and with consideration for the gap in research on this topic, a mixed methodology project was designed. The project incorporated five studies aiming to: 1) develop an understanding of the information that parents of children with ASD currently use to make intervention decisions, and their information preferences; 2) develop an understanding of parents' decision making processes; 3) evaluate the quality of information most commonly accessed by parents, particularly web-based information; 4) determine how best to help parents understand what interventions are available and how they are classified; and 5) develop and conduct a pilot evaluation of the effectiveness of a decision aid. Study 1 was a cross sectional survey of Autism Advisors, and parents across Australia who were accessing the Helping Children With Autism (HCWA) funding package. The study aimed to obtain a better understanding of how parents made decisions about autism interventions, and which resources they accessed to obtain intervention information. Participants were Autism Advisors (n=13) and parents (n=113) attending initial consultations with an Autism Advisor. After determining that parents frequently accessed the Internet for ASD intervention information, it was considered important to investigate the quality of information parents were likely to be finding. Study 2 analysed the quality of health information in a sample of autism-related websites using a valid and reliable health information evaluation tool called DISCERN. This study found that websites were of variable quality and frequently lacked references to research evidence. Study 3 involved conducting focus groups and individual interviews with parents (n = 23) whose children were aged under 18 years and diagnosed with an ASD.iii The aim was to further investigate parents' decision making processes and further explore the various formats and sources of information used. This study revealed that parents engaged in both a pragmatic and emotional journey and gained confidence over time in relation to their decision making regarding interventions for their child. Study 4 involved developing a web-based decision aid informed by the results of the first three studies, and with consideration for the literature on shared decision making, health literacy and patient education.The resource aimed to assist parents to make better-informed decisions about autism interventions, with considera...

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Mapping the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in children aged under 7 years in Australia, 2010–2012

Abstract: There may be a substantial gap between the age at which a reliable and accurate diagnosis of ASD is possible and the average age that children are currently diagnosed. The frequency of ASD diagnoses in Australia has increased substantially from previously published estimates.

Cited by 92 publications

References 23 publications

Practitioner Perceptions of the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Australia

Practitioner Perceptions of the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Australia

Themes emerging from State of Child Health: UK and Australia

Assisting parents of children with autism to make intervention decisions by improving their health literacy about evidence

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