Parent-reported Early Atypical Development and Age of Diagnosis for Children with Co-occurring Autism and ADHD

Sainsbury, Willow J.; Carrasco, Kelly; Whitehouse, Andrew J. O.; Waddington, Hannah

doi:10.1007/s10803-022-05488-0

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 35 publications

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“…Recent research indicates that only 33.5% of participants had never received a psychiatric diagnosis, while the remaining participants had received one or more diagnoses distinct from ASD (48). Additionally, the co-occurrence of autism and attention-de cit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with an earlier ADHD diagnosis and a later autism diagnosis (39,49). Autistic patients with comorbidities tend to experience longer waiting times for diagnosis and typically consult with a greater number of specialists before receiving a de nitive diagnosis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delay of diagnosis in autism spectrum disorder and its influencing factors

Zhu,

Ji,

Wang

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Background Although experienced clinicians are capable of diagnosing autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children before they reach the age of 2, the average age of diagnosis reported internationally is between 4 and 5 years, indicating a significant delay in diagnosis. The objective of this study was to determine the factors influencing the diagnosis delay time (DDT) in children with ASD and to shorten the diagnosis period. Methods We employed the Cox proportional hazard model to examine the effects of individual, family, sociodemographic, and healthcare system indicators on DDT in a retrospective survey involving ASD children and their families. Results This study included a total of 560 subjects. The findings revealed that the median DDT in children with ASD was 8.16 (15.99) months, and the mean DDT was 13.68 (17.11) months. Language development level of children (RR = 0.521, 95%CI 0.400 ~ 0.680, P < 0.001), enrollment in school (RR = 1.950, 95%CI 1.552 ~ 2.450, P = < 0.001), experience of previous misdiagnosis (RR = 1.637, 95%CI 1.249 ~ 2.146, P < 0.001), degree of caregiver's concern about initial symptoms (RR = 0.781, 95%CI 0.635 ~ 0.960, P = 0.019), and whether the initial symptom is a core defect of ASD (RR = 1.758, 95%CI 1.210 ~ 2.553, P = 0.003) were identified as independent risk factors for delayed diagnosis of ASD in children under the age of six. Conclusions In China, there is a significant delay in the diagnosis of ASD among children. Children at risk of delayed ASD diagnosis include those with normal language abilities and early-onset non-autistic core difficulties, whose parents neglect their children’s atypical symptoms, those who have already started school, and those with a history of misdiagnosis. We urge parents, educators, and healthcare providers to closely monitor atypical child development during early childhood, enhance growth monitoring for preschool and school-aged children, and be attentive to children with normal language skills.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delay of diagnosis in autism spectrum disorder and its influencing factors

Zhu,

Ji,

Wang

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Investigating Parental Observations of Early Autism Development in Simplex and Multiplex Families

Cleary,

Maybery,

Waddington

et al. 2024

J Autism Dev Disord

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Past research has highlighted the importance of early identification of developmental differences to improve targeted access to early interventions or supports. As such, it is of particular importance in the context of children at elevated likelihood of autism (such as where an older sibling has a diagnosis of autism), to better understand when and which early concerns are important as predictors of which children will benefit from pre-diagnostic supports. This study explored the number and frequency of retrospective parent reported concerns within the first year of life for children diagnosed with autism, both those who had an older sibling diagnosed with autism and those who did not, as well as for undiagnosed siblings. We found that at both 0–6 and 7–12 months, the only factor related to the presence or absence of early parent reported concerns was child diagnostic status, with the presence of reported early concerns more likely for children with a diagnosis of autism. These findings suggest that for children at elevated likelihood of autism, parents’ concerns are driven primarily by developmental differences, with child’s birth order and sibling diagnostic status not impacting on parent early concerns.

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Parent-reported Areas of Greatest Challenge for their ADHD and/or Autistic Children

Sainsbury,

Whitehouse,

Carrasco

et al. 2024

Adv Neurodev Disord

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Objectives This study aimed to understand how parents describe the most challenging behaviors exhibited by their children diagnosed with autism and/or ADHD, how those behaviours impact their family, and whether challenges are directly related to the core characteristics of these conditions. Methods A total of 258 New Zealand parents of children diagnosed with autism (n = 98), ADHD (n = 85), or both conditions (n = 75) answered an open-ended question about what child behaviour(s) provide the most challenge for their child/family’s life. Responses were coded into 13 domains. Results The areas of greatest challenge fitted with the core characteristics of the respective diagnoses, but the co-occurring group favoured greater challenges in the autism domain. Emotional dysregulation challenges were substantial across all three groups. A significant predictor of parents reporting challenges in the autism and internalising domain was a higher age. Conclusions These results have the potential to inform more targeted supports for children and families by considering what is important to parents.

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Parent-reported Early Atypical Development and Age of Diagnosis for Children with Co-occurring Autism and ADHD

Cited by 3 publications

References 35 publications

Delay of diagnosis in autism spectrum disorder and its influencing factors

Delay of diagnosis in autism spectrum disorder and its influencing factors

Investigating Parental Observations of Early Autism Development in Simplex and Multiplex Families

Parent-reported Areas of Greatest Challenge for their ADHD and/or Autistic Children

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