Explaining Differences in Autism Detection Timing: Age of Diagnosis and Associated I Ndividual and Socio-Familial Factors in Chinese Children

Background: The timings of autism detection in research and clinical practice are characterized by substantial heterogeneity ranging from infancy to school age. The study examined the age of diagnosis(AoD) and its associated individual and social-familial factors in Chinese children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: A sample of 1,235 ASD children from 132 rehabilitation organizations in Shenzhen was investigated in 2021.Parents of ASD children were asked to indicate their socio-familial information and the clinical condition of their children using self-report questionnaires.

Results: We found a mean AoD of 31.4 ± 12.7 months and a median of 30.0, with 71.7% of the children receiving their diagnosis between 24-36 months of age. Although 13.3% of the children were diagnosed early (<24 months), 15.1% did not have their symptoms detected until preschooler later years. The AoD of Chinese ASD children were likely to be late if they were older, less disabled and presented with no intellectual impairment. The odds of having a delayed ASD diagnosis were nine times higher among migrant ASD children compared to those with local households.

Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of identifying culturally sensitive socio-economic determinants in ASD detection in addition to clinical factors, as these factors are likely to affect the quality of life of many ASD children and families.