TY - JOUR
T1 - Preschoolers with autism spectrum conditions: The impact on families and the supports available to them
AU - Cassidy, Arlene
AU - McConkey, Roy
AU - Truesdale-Kennedy, Maria
AU - Slevin, Eamonn
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - As more children are diagnosed at a younger age with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a new population of families is growing requiring services. Little is known about their characteristics and need for support. Instead, past research has tended to focus on specialist assessments and interventions. Over 100 parents with a child aged under five years of age were interviewed individually at home using a semi-structured questionnaire and standard rating scales. Although all children had been given a confirmed diagnosis of ASD at specialist community clinics, wide variations existed in the children’s developmental difficulties and in the characteristics of their families. A majority of families reported marked impacts on family life with increased levels of parental stress. However, the amount and type of professional support available to families were not related to child or family characteristics. Family-centred intervention and support services are required and they should be available to parents irrespective of their child having a confirmed diagnosis.
AB - As more children are diagnosed at a younger age with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a new population of families is growing requiring services. Little is known about their characteristics and need for support. Instead, past research has tended to focus on specialist assessments and interventions. Over 100 parents with a child aged under five years of age were interviewed individually at home using a semi-structured questionnaire and standard rating scales. Although all children had been given a confirmed diagnosis of ASD at specialist community clinics, wide variations existed in the children’s developmental difficulties and in the characteristics of their families. A majority of families reported marked impacts on family life with increased levels of parental stress. However, the amount and type of professional support available to families were not related to child or family characteristics. Family-centred intervention and support services are required and they should be available to parents irrespective of their child having a confirmed diagnosis.
U2 - 10.1080/03004430701491721
DO - 10.1080/03004430701491721
M3 - Article
SN - 1476-8275
VL - 178,
SP - 115
EP - 128
JO - Early Child Development and Care
JF - Early Child Development and Care
IS - 2
ER -