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Cited by 110Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchChild Nutrition and Feeding IssuesFamily and Disability Support Research

Mapping the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in children aged under 7 years in Australia, 2010–2012

Bent, Catherine A, Dissanayake, Cheryl, Barbaro, Josephine·2015·Medical Journal of Australia
DOI 10.5694/mja14.00328
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Abstract

Objectives To investigate the frequency and age at diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children aged under 7 years living in Australia. Design and participants Analysis of de-identified data on 15 074 children aged under 7 years registered with the Helping Children with Autism Package (HCWAP; a program that provides funding for access to early intervention and support services throughout Australia) between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2012. Main outcome measures Age at diagnosis of ASD as confirmed by a paediatrician, psychiatrist and/or multidisciplinary team assessment. Results The average age at diagnosis of ASD in children registered with the HCWAP is currently 49 months, with the most frequently reported age being 71 months. Differences were evident in age at diagnosis across states, with children in Western Australia and New South Wales being diagnosed at a younger age. Across Australia, 0.74% of the population of children aged under 7 years are currently diagnosed with ASD and registered with the HCWAP. A higher proportion of children were registered with the HCWAP in Victoria compared with other states. There was no difference in age at diagnosis between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, but children from a culturally and linguistically diverse background were diagnosed 5 months earlier than other children. Conclusions There may be a substantial gap between the age at which a reliable and accurate diagnosis of ASD is possible and the average age that ch…

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  • A clear finding in the extant literature, similar to research in other settler-colonial nations, was the ongoing subjugation of Indigenous knowledges, perspectives and lived experiences to inform autism services by and with Indigenous families and children.

    “However, a clear finding in the extant literature, and similar to research in other settler-colonial nations (Bailey & Arciuli, 2020; Bennett & Hodgson, 2017; Bent et al., 2015; Roy & Balaratnasingam, 2010; Wilson & Watson, 2011), was the ongoing subjugation of Indigenous knowledges, perspectives and lived experiences to inform autism services by and with Indigenous families and”

    From Autism and Autism Services with Indigenous Families and Children in the Settler-Colonial Context of Canada: A Critical Scoping Review (2022) · cites this paper as Bent et al., 2015

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Authors
Bent, C. A., Dissanayake, C., & Barbaro, J.
Affiliations
La Trobe University (AU)
Corresponding author
Dissanayake, Cheryl
ORCID
Venue
Medical Journal of Australia
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2015-04
Volume
202
Issue
6
Pages
317-320
ISSN
  • 0025-729X (ISSN-L)
  • 1326-5377
DOI
10.5694/mja14.00328
OpenAlex
W2015089696
Cited by
110
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 2
FWCI
5.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • The Medical Journal of Australia (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, age at diagnosis, autism prevalence, children under 7 years, early intervention services, Indigenous Australians, culturally and linguistically diverse children, state-level variation, Australia
MeSH terms
Australia, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Child, Preschool, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Risk Factors, Incidence, Age of Onset, Age Distribution

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