Parental Identification of Early Behavioural Abnormalities in Children with Autistic Disorder

The aim of the study was to identify early behavioural abnormalities in children later diagnosed with autistic disorder. Accurate identification of such deficits has implications for early diagnosis, intervention and prognosis. The parents of 153 children with autistic disorder completed a questionn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Autism : the international journal of research and practice 2003-06, Vol.7 (2), p.125-143
Main Authors: Young, Robyn L., Brewer, Neil, Pattison, Clare
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Australia
Autism
Autistic Disorder - diagnosis
Autistic Disorder - psychology
Behavior Problems
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child Behavior Disorders - complications
Child clinical studies
Child, Preschool
Clinical Diagnosis
Communication Disorders - complications
Developmental disorders
Developmental Stages
Early Childhood Education
Early Identification
Elementary Education
Female
Foreign Countries
Humans
Identification (Psychology)
Infantile autism
Language Acquisition
Language Disorders - complications
Male
Medical sciences
Motor Development
Motor Skills Disorders - complications
Parent Attitudes
Parent Child Relationship
Parents - psychology
Play and Playthings - psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Social Behavior
Surveys and Questionnaires
Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
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Summary:The aim of the study was to identify early behavioural abnormalities in children later diagnosed with autistic disorder. Accurate identification of such deficits has implications for early diagnosis, intervention and prognosis. The parents of 153 children with autistic disorder completed a questionnaire asking them to describe early childhood behaviours of concern and to recall the age of onset. Core deficit-linked behaviours were then identified and the ontogeny of their development was noted. Behaviour categories were: (1) gross motor difficulties, (2) social awareness and play deficits, (3) language and communication difficulties, and (4) unusual preoccupations. The findings supported the notion that the nature and prevalence of these deficits depend on age. Consistent with past research, there was a significant interval between parents first noticing abnormalities and the making of a definitive diagnosis. The implications for this delay are discussed.
ISSN:1362-3613
1461-7005
DOI:10.1177/1362361303007002002