Disparities in Diagnosis and Service Access for Minority Children with ASD in the United States

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders 2019-10, Vol.49 (10), p.4320-4331
• Main Authors: Zeleke, Waganesh A., Hughes, Tammy L., Drozda, Natalie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Access to Health Care; Analysis; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - diagnosis; Autism Spectrum Disorder - epidemiology; Autism Spectrum Disorder - therapy; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Autistic children; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Care and treatment; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child, Preschool; Children; Children of minorities; Clinical Diagnosis; Developmental tests; Diagnosis; Family (Sociological Unit); Female; Health aspects; Health care; Health care disparities; Health insurance; Healthcare Disparities - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Insurance coverage; Insurance Coverage - statistics & numerical data; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medical personnel; Medical referrals; Mental Health; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority Group Children; Minority Groups; Minority Groups - statistics & numerical data; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Parent Attitudes; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Physicians; Psychological aspects; Psychology; Public Health; Racial Differences; Responsiveness; Satisfaction; School Health Services; Treatment needs; United States
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04131-9

This study examined children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using data from the 2011 Survey of Pathway to Diagnosis and Services national data set (n = 1715). When comparing white and minority families, results indicate there were no differences between the child’s treatment needs based on the number and type of ASD symptoms or insurance coverage. However, minority parents were less likely to contact a doctor or health care professionals about their concerns, waiting years, rather than months as described by white families, to have the child evaluated. Although both white and minority families received similar types of care (e.g., conducting developmental tests, making a referral to a specialist, suggesting that the parent discuss the concern with the school), white families reported they were more formally engaged in the diagnostic process and subsequently visited a larger variety of service providers. White parents were more satisfied with the services that their child received from doctors and other health care providers whereas minority families indicated school services were more responsiveness to their needs. Recommended outreach efforts are suggested and described.