Missed Early Intervention Opportunities for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Developmental Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Early intervention (EI) is critical for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during the key 0-3 years neurodevelopmental period.
• Participation in EI services before age two remains a significant challenge for many children with ASD.
• Timely EI can improve developmental outcomes for children with ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with early participation (before age 2) in EI for preschool children diagnosed with ASD.
• To analyze predictors of receiving Part C EI services promptly.

Main Methods:

• Utilized cross-sectional data from the 2021-2023 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH).
• Employed binary logistical regression analysis.
• Examined variables including age of ASD diagnosis, socioeconomic status (SES), race, ASD severity, biological sex, birth weight, and diagnosis of developmental delay (DD) indicators.

Main Results:

• Only 15% of preschool children with ASD received EI before age 2.
• Key predictors for timely Part C EI participation were: ASD diagnosis before age 2, higher SES, and lower birth weight.
• 15.5% of children not receiving timely EI had severe ASD symptoms, indicating a critical need for improved access.

Conclusions:

• Significant barriers prevent timely EI participation for children with ASD, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds or with severe symptoms.
• Strategies to improve access include: expanding the definition of developmental delay (DD), recognizing low birth weight as a Part C EI diagnosis, reducing socioeconomic barriers, and enhancing early detection tools for ASD and DD.