Retention of Autism Spectrum Diagnoses by Community Professionals: Findings From the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 2000 and 2006

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Dev Behav Pediatr
• Personal Author:
  Wiggins, Lisa D. ; Baio, Jon ; Schieve, Laura ; Lee, Li-Ching ; Nicholas, Joyce ; Rice, Catherine E.
• Description:
  Objective
  
  Past research is inconsistent in the stability of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses. The authors therefore sought to examine the proportion of children identified from a population-based surveillance system that had a change in classification from ASD to non-ASD and factors associated with such changes.
  
  Methods
  
  Children with a documented age of first ASD diagnosis noted in surveillance records by a community professional (n = 1392) were identified from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Children were considered to have a change in classification if an ASD was excluded after the age of first recorded ASD diagnosis. Child and surveillance factors were entered into a multivariable regression model to determine factors associated with diagnostic change.
  
  Results
  
  Only 4% of our sample had a change in classification from ASD to non-ASD noted in evaluation records. Factors associated with change in classification from ASD to non-ASD were timing of first ASD diagnosis at 30 months or younger, onset other than developmental regression, presence of specific developmental delays, and participation in a special needs classroom other than autism at 8 years of age.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Our results found that children with ASDs are likely to retain an ASD diagnosis, which underscores the need for continued services. Children diagnosed at 30 months or younger are more likely to experience a change in classification from ASD to non-ASD than children diagnosed at 31 months or older, suggesting earlier identification of ASD symptoms may be associated with response to intervention efforts or increased likelihood for overdiagnosis.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Age Factors Autistic Disorder Chi-Square Distribution Child, Preschool Child Development Disorders, Pervasive Diagnostic Errors Female Humans Logistic Models Male Population Surveillance

  More +
• Source:
  J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2012; 33(5):387-395.
• Pubmed ID:
  22580734
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4486212
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  LSW0/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  33
• Issue:
  5
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:df7df235e4f024f9875a605af994401aa65b7698233994617f31ccc47436f8fc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/33805/cdc_33805_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 242.98 KB ]