Delayed diagnosis in children with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Developmental Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Developing countries face significant delays in diagnosing neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID).
• Parental concerns often precede diagnosis by a considerable margin, impacting timely intervention.
• Early detection is critical for improving outcomes in children with ASD and ID.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the time lag between parental concerns and diagnosis of ASD and ID in Brazilian pediatric neurology clinics.
• To investigate associations between cognitive functioning indicators and behavioral/emotional problems in children with ASD and ID.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 106 children diagnosed with ID (n=69) and ASD (n=37) in a Brazilian public health network.
• Inclusion criteria: diagnoses of ID and ASD. Exclusion criteria: comorbid conditions like ADHD and specific learning disorder.
• Data collected on age at first symptoms, time to diagnosis, cognitive functioning, and behavioral/emotional problems.

Main Results:

• A significant delay was observed between parental concerns and diagnosis for both ASD and ID, with diagnosis occurring around 6.6-6.8 years after initial concerns.
• Children with ID demonstrated significantly lower cognitive functioning scores compared to those with ASD.
• Children with ID exhibited higher externalizing problem scores, while children with ASD showed higher internalizing problem scores.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms late diagnosis of ASD and ID within the studied population.
• Findings underscore the necessity of training primary care professionals for early identification and diagnosis of ASD and ID.
• Improved early detection strategies are essential for timely intervention and better management of neurodevelopmental disorders.