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. 2009 May;48(5):474-483.
doi: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e31819b3848.

Timing of identification among children with an autism spectrum disorder: findings from a population-based surveillance study

Paul T Shattuck  1 , Maureen Durkin  2 , Matthew Maenner  2 , Craig Newschaffer  2 , David S Mandell  2 , Lisa Wiggins  2 , Li-Ching Lee  2 , Catherine Rice  2 , Ellen Giarelli  2 , Russell Kirby  2 , Jon Baio  2 , Jennifer Pinto-Martin  2 , Christopher Cuniff  2
Affiliations

Timing of identification among children with an autism spectrum disorder: findings from a population-based surveillance study

Paul T Shattuck et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 May.

Abstract

Objective: At what age are children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) identified by community providers? What factors influence the timing of when children are identified with ASDs? This study examined the timing of when children with ASDs are identified.

Method: Data came from 13 sites participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2002 multisite ongoing autism surveillance program, the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Survival analysis was used to examine factors that influence the timing of community-based identification and diagnosis.

Result: Data from health and education records reveal that the median age of identification was 5.7 years (SE 0.08 years). Parametric survival models revealed that several factors were associated with a younger age of identification: being male, having an IQ of 70 or lower, and having experienced developmental regression. Significant differences in the age of identification among the 13 sites were also discovered.

Conclusions: The large gap between the age at which children can be identified and when they actually are identified suggests a critical need for further research, innovation, and improvement in this area of clinical practice.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Dr. Rice serves as a trainer for professionals in the assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proportion of Cases Not Yet Identified with Autism in Alabama, Maryland, and West Virginia for Children Who Were 8-Years-Old in 2002 and Met Autism Case Criteria as Part of the U.S. Autism and Developmental Disabilities Network Surveillance System.a a Adjusted for all variables listed under Model 3 of Table 2.
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