Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 3, 2025
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Autism services in low-resource areas
Amira T Masri1, Arwa K Nasir1, Aya G Irshaid1
1From the division of Child Neurology (Masri, Irshaid A, Irshaid F, Alomari, Al-Qudah), Department of Pediatrics, Department of Biochemistry (Khatib), College of Medicine, University of Jordan, From the Department of Pediatrics (Nafi), Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University-Jordan, from the Department of Pediatrics (Almomani), Division of Child Psychiatry (Bashtawi), Neuroscience Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, and from the Department of Pediatrics (Nasir), University of Nebraska Medical Center,Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Insights
Most children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Jordan face limited access to essential intervention services. Key barriers include high costs and transportation challenges, necessitating resource-aware future planning.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) requires timely intervention services for optimal child development.
- Access to specialized care for ASD varies significantly, particularly in low-resource settings.
- Understanding service accessibility is crucial for developing effective support systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the accessibility of intervention services for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Jordan.
- To identify the types of services utilized and barriers encountered by families of children with ASD.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted with parents of 274 children with ASD (aged 2.5-17 years).
- Data were collected from participants attending pediatric neurology clinics across three major Jordanian hospitals.
- Information gathered focused on service utilization, age at first intervention, and perceived barriers to care.
Main Results:
- 71.5% of children with ASD received rehabilitation services, with behavioral therapy being the most common (66.4%).
- The average age for initiating services was 3.9 years, with speech and behavioral therapies receiving the most weekly hours.
- Significant barriers included high costs (58%) and transportation difficulties (37.5%), with a preference for specialized autism centers.
Conclusions:
- Children with ASD in Jordan experience restricted access to recommended intervention services.
- Future intervention strategies must address the financial and logistical challenges faced by families in resource-limited regions.
- Parental preference leans towards specialized autism centers rather than direct training for self-intervention.
Objectives:
To explore access to intervention services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Jordan.
Methods:
We used prospective cross sectional design and survey methodology to collect information from the parents of a convenient sample of children with ASD aged 2.5-17 years and who attended pediatric neurology clinics in 3 different university affiliated hospitals in 3 geographic areas in Jordan from February to December 2018.
Results:
We interviewed parents of 274 children with ASD. One hundred ninety-six (71.5%) received rehabilitation services. The average age at first session was 3.9 years. The most common services received were behavioral therapy (182; 66.4%). The average weekly hours were highest for speech and behavioral therapy; 6.25 and 6.64 respectively. Private centers for developmental disabilities were the most commonly used followed by private centers for ASD. The most common barriers were costs (138; 58%) and transportation (88; 37.5%). Most parents (198; 72.3%) prefer to receive rehabilitation in a specialized center for autism, and most did not want to receive training to train their child themselves.
Conclusion:
Most children with ASD in Jordan have limited access to recommended autism services. The development of future interventions must consider the needs of those living in limited resource regions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
01:25Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
01:30Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...