Abstract
ABSTRACT Our objective was to evaluate pathways between initial concerns of parents regarding atypical development of their children and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis in Turkey. The study included 199 children aged 18–97 months and diagnosed with ASD. The fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria were used along with information obtained from parents and direct observation of the child. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was used as a diagnostic tool. A 45-minute semi-structured interview was conducted with parents to evaluate the time until their child was diagnosed with ASD. A period longer than 1 year (mean: 13.69 ± 10.80 months) had passed from the first concern of parents until their children were diagnosed with ASD. Further, 53.8% of parents consulted a healthcare professional a few months after their initial concern and 46.2% did not for a longer time (9.34 ± 8.36 months). Maternal education level, socioeconomic status, and higher Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) relating subscale scores predicted an earlier age for a diagnosis of ASD, while higher ABC language subscale scores predicted ASD diagnosis at older ages. Based on our results, it appears that factors such as spoken language and socioeconomic level may be related to significant delays in ASD diagnoses in Turkey.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
