Explaining Age at Autism Spectrum Diagnosis in Children with Migrant and Non-Migrant Background in Austria

Abstract

This study explored (i) differences in age at Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis between children with and without a migrant background in the main diagnostic centre for ASD in Upper Austria (ii) factors related to the age at diagnosis and (iii) whether specific factors differed between the two groups. A retrospective chart analysis included all children who received their first diagnosis before the age of 10 years (n = 211) between 2013 and 2018. Children with a migrant background were diagnosed 13 months earlier than those without (r = 0.278, p < 0.001), and had more severe delays in language, more severe autism, no Asperger’s syndrome, lower parental educational level and more frequent referrals by paediatricians. For the total sample, expressive language delay, severity of restricted and repetitive behaviours, higher nonverbal development, and paediatric referrals explained earlier diagnoses. There was a stronger effect of parental education and weaker effect of language impairment on age at ASD diagnosis in children with a migrant background. In conclusion, no delay in diagnosing ASD in children with a migrant background in a country with universal health care and an established system of paediatric developmental surveillance was found. Awareness of ASD, including Asperger’s syndrome, should be raised among families and healthcare professionals.

Predictors of age at diagnosis in autism spectrum disorders: the use of multiple regression analyses and a classification tree on a clinical sample

“…The mean age at diagnosis of 69.6 months (5.8 years) in our study was close to, though slightly older than the findings of a 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis looking at 35 studies, which found the mean age of diagnosis was 60.48 months (5.4 years) [ 25 ]. Our result is also older than a 2020 Austrian study finding, which found the mean age at diagnosis was 46.7 months (3.9 years) [ 26 ].…”

“…The fourth limitation was related to the fact that for this research, we did not collect and analyze information regarding who referred the children to our autism diagnostic program. Therefore, we cannot confirm the Austrian findings that a referral by a pediatrician was associated with an earlier diagnosis [ 26 ]. Our results could have also been influenced by our sample, including only children, thereby excluding those diagnosed with autism in adulthood.…”

Diagnostic delay in children with neurodevelopmental conditions attending a publicly funded developmental assessment service: findings from the Sydney Child Neurodevelopment Research Registry

“…In contrast, studies tracking patient-level data within clinics typically use small sample sizes, research networks or private clinical services. These studies have reported mixed results to suggest that child gender14–16 and symptom severity,17 parental education,18 marital status19 and a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background20–22 may be associated with assessment and diagnosis delays (see also Daniels and Mandell for a review23). These mixed findings are largely specific to autism specialist assessment clinics.…”

Massage Therapy Can Prevent the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children

“…This age can also identify cognitive and language scores so that more positive results can be obtained [15]. The age of 24 months is the most appropriate age for diagnosing children at risk for ASD [16], [17]. For the gender factor, there were more males than females at risk for ASD.…”