Child Age at Time of First Maternal Concern and Time to Services among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Dev Behav Pediatr
• Personal Author:
  Van Dyke, Julia ; Rosenberg, Steven A. ; Crume, Tessa ; Reyes, Nuri ; Alexander, Aimee Anido ; Barger, Brian ; Fitzgerald, Robert ; Hightshoe, Kristina ; Moody, Eric J. ; Pazol, Karen ; Rosenberg, Cordelia R. ; Rubenstein, Eric ; Wiggins, Lisa ; DiGuiseppi, Carolyn
• Description:
  Objective
  
  Early treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can improve developmental outcomes. Children with ASD from minority families often receive services later. We explored factors related to child’s age at time of mother’s first concerns about child’s development and subsequent time to service initiation among children with ASD.
  
  Methods
  
  Analysis included 759 preschool-age children classified with ASD based on comprehensive evaluations. Factors associated with retrospectively-reported child age at time of first maternal concern and subsequent time to service initiation were investigated using multiple linear regression and Cox proportional-hazards.
  
  Results
  
  Earlier maternal concern was associated with multiparity, ≥1 child chronic condition, externalizing behaviors, and younger gestational age, but not race/ethnicity. Time to service initiation was longer for children of non-Latino Black or other than Black or White race and higher developmental level, and shorter for children with ≥1 chronic condition and older child age at first maternal concern.
  
  Conclusion
  
  Parity, gestational age, and child health and behavior were associated with child age at first maternal concern. Knowledge of child development in multiparous mothers may allow them to recognize potential concerns earlier, suggesting that first time parents may benefit from enhanced education about normal development. Race/ethnicity was not associated with child’s age when mothers recognized potential developmental problems, hence it is unlikely that awareness of ASD symptoms causes racial/ethnic disparities in initiation of services. Delays in time to service initiation among children from racial/ethnic minority groups highlight the need to improve their access to services as soon as developmental concerns are recognized.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Age Factors Autism Spectrum Disorder Child, Preschool Female Gestational Age Humans Male Mothers Parity Retrospective Studies Time-to-Treatment

  More +
• Keywords:
  Access To Services Autism Spectrum Disorder Early Intervention Health Disparities
• Source:
  J Dev Behav Pediatr. 45(4):e293-e301
• Pubmed ID:
  38896561
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC11326974
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  U01 DD000746/DD/NCBDD CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01DD000901/CC/CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U10 DD000901/DD/NCBDD CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01DD000748/CC/CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01 DD000749/DD/NCBDD CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01DD000750/CC/CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01 DD000748/DD/NCBDD CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01DD000752/CC/CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01DD000746/CC/CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01DD000749/CC/CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01 DD000752/DD/NCBDD CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01 DD000750/DD/NCBDD CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  45
• Issue:
  4
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e36573d2e47dfcac5149c6494c3c1d761395c656dc1ccb8425a871a9d0413d5d197c25b497a10d22fb7213391d1a04feb04f00dff50b7274f450379071f85c77
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/160176/cdc_160176_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 155.49 KB ]