The autism diagnostic experiences of French parents
Open accessAbstract
This survey focused on French parents' views of the diagnostic process relating to their child with autism. Data were collected on the age at diagnosis, the time taken to obtain a diagnosis and the difficulties encountered. Questionnaires filled in by the parents (n = 248) and in-depth interviews (n = 43) were analyzed in order to obtain quantitative and qualitative results. The ages of the children ranged from 4 to 45. This approach enabled us to compare the practices of professionals now and in the past. The mean age of diagnosis was 10 ± 8 years from 1960 to 1990, 5 ± 3 years from 1990 to 2005 (3 ± 1 from 2003 to 2005). The results showed that the mean delays between first consultation and diagnosis were reduced. Regarding the way the diagnosis was announced, 63% of the parents of children with autism and 93% of the parents of adults with autism were dissatisfied. We discuss the parents' reactions and the changes in the diagnostic process.
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For Asperger's disorder, mean age at diagnosis across studies ranged from 45 to 134 months.
“Among studies reporting age at diagnosis for Asperger’s disorder (n = 16), mean and median ages ranged from 45 [11] to 134 months [3] and 89 [26] to 116 months [22], respectively.”
From Explaining differences in age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis: A critical review (2014) · cites this paper as [11]
For PDD-NOS, mean age at diagnosis across studies ranged from 40 to 111 months.
“Among studies reporting age at diagnosis for PDD-NOS (n = 13), mean and median ages ranged from 40 [11] to 111 months [34] and from 48 to 77 months [26], respectively.”
From Explaining differences in age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis: A critical review (2014) · cites this paper as [11]
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References 34 · Cited by 139
- Authors
- Chamak, B., Bonniau, B., Oudaya, L., & Ehrenberg, A.
- Affiliations
- Inserm (FR)
- Université Paris Descartes (FR)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Chamak, Brigitte
- ORCID
- Chamak, Brigitte
- Venue
- Autism
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2010-09-27
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 83-97
- ISSN
- 1362-3613 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7005
- OpenAlex
- W2104505812
- Cited by
- 139
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 3.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- shs.hal.science
- Locations
- Autism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
- Fondation de France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Université Paris Descartes
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
- Keywords
- autism diagnosis, parental experiences, delayed diagnosis, age at diagnosis, diagnosis disclosure, parental satisfaction, history of autism diagnosis
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, France, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Parents, Professional-Family Relations, Surveys and Questionnaires, Patient Satisfaction, Age Distribution, Young Adult
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