OBJECTIVE: Most of what we know about children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is based on post-diagnostic, retrospective, self-select studies. Oftentimes, there is no direct comparison between trajectories of children with ASD and children without ASD. METHODS: To circumvent both of these problems, the present secondary data analysis utilised a large-scale longitudinal general population survey of children born in the year 2000 (i.e. the Millennium Cohort Study; MCS; n = 18,522). Bi-annual MCS data were available from five data sweeps (children aged 9 months to 11 years of age). RESULTS: Pre-diagnostic data showed early health problems differentiated children later diagnosed with autism from non-diagnosed peers. Prevalence was much higher than previously estimated (3.5% for 11-year olds). Post-diagnosis, trajectories deteriorated significantly for the children with ASD and their families in relation to education, health and economic wellbeing. CONCLUSION: These findings raise many issues for service delivery and the rights of persons with disabilities and their families.
OBJECTIVE: Most of what we know about children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is based on post-diagnostic, retrospective, self-select studies. Oftentimes, there is no direct comparison between trajectories of children with ASD and children without ASD. METHODS: To circumvent both of these problems, the present secondary data analysis utilised a large-scale longitudinal general population survey of children born in the year 2000 (i.e. the Millennium Cohort Study; MCS; n = 18,522). Bi-annual MCS data were available from five data sweeps (children aged 9 months to 11 years of age). RESULTS: Pre-diagnostic data showed early health problems differentiated children later diagnosed with autism from non-diagnosed peers. Prevalence was much higher than previously estimated (3.5% for 11-year olds). Post-diagnosis, trajectories deteriorated significantly for the children with ASD and their families in relation to education, health and economic wellbeing. CONCLUSION: These findings raise many issues for service delivery and the rights of persons with disabilities and their families.
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Keywords:
Millennium Cohort Study; UK; applied behaviour analysis; autism spectrum disorder; parents; quality of life; secondary data analysis; service delivery
Authors: Paul A Constable; Sebastian B Gaigg; Dermot M Bowler; Herbert Jägle; Dorothy A Thompson Journal: Doc Ophthalmol Date: 2016-02-11 Impact factor: 2.379
Authors: Karola Dillenburger; Lyn McKerr; Julie-Ann Jordan; Mickey Keenan Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2016-07-16 Impact factor: 3.390