Parent-professional agreement on diagnosis and recommendations for children with developmental disorders

Twenty-eight children with developmental disorders underwent an interdisciplinary assessment for diagnosis and recommendations about management. Following this assessment, the degree of agreement on diagnosis and recommendations between parents and the team was determined. There was substantial agreement for diagnosis of clearly identifiable conditions such as genetic disorders, autism, and mental retardation but less agreement for milder disorders such as learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and emotional disorders. Agreement on management varied, being higher for speech therapy and psychosocial interventions but lower for use of stimulant medication and diet. The parents identified additional diagnostic labels in their child and mentioned more recommendations than the clinicians prescribed. The results suggest the need for careful attention to parent perceptions following interdisciplinary assessment.