Factors associated with age of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder among children in Saudi Arabia: new insights from a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Research examining the age of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its influencing factors mostly originate from developed Western countries, providing little to no systematic information about the understanding and management of ASD in the rest of the world. The present exploratory study examined the influence of child and family characteristics on the age of ASD diagnosis in Saudi Arabia.

Results

The median age at diagnosis was 3.0 years and was associated with some child and family characteristics. A 1 year increase in child's age was associated with a 0.1 year increase in age of diagnosis (95% CI 0.05, 0.12). Children who did not respond to their name were diagnosed 0.3 years earlier than other children (95% CI - 0.60, - 0.05), and engaging in chall

SUBMITTER: Alnemary FM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9092670 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature