Original ArticleParticipation in Part C Early Intervention: One Key to an Earlier Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Section snippets
Methods
The author integrated 3 data sources. State administrative data accessed via the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs included children with ASD diagnosed by age 8 years enrolled in a Medicaid waiver between February 2007 and March 2015. The Office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs provided census tract and Medicaid claims data. Details about the waiver and data integration have been published elsewhere.15 Children were included in the study if assigned a census-tract ID to
Results
Table I includes descriptive statistics for the 1613 children in the sample. There were more male than female subjects, most children had a diagnosis of intellectual disability (64.9%), and a minority of children had a diagnosis of Asperger, Rett syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (18.9%). More than one-third of children identified as white (41.2%), and more than two-thirds lived in an urban neighborhood (68.9%). The average age of diagnosis was just older
Discussion
Using a large sample of children with ASD in a Southeastern state, this study suggests that participation in a state early intervention program enables earlier diagnosis, after controlling for clinical, sociodemographic, and geographic characteristics, as well as period effects. Compared with children who did not participate, children who participated before their date of diagnosis were diagnosed 2 years earlier. In a cross-sectional record review of children evaluated at a tertiary referral
Data Statement
Data sharing statement available at www.jpeds.com.
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Cited by (11)
One Key to Timely Diagnosis and Services? A Coordinated System of Care
2019, Journal of PediatricsThe Influence of Policy on Early Diagnosis and Other Autism Services: a Narrative Review
2024, Review Journal of Autism and Developmental DisordersAutism Spectrum Disorder Screening Practices of Part C Early Intervention Providers: A Brief Report
2023, Journal of Early InterventionPredictors of an earlier diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in children and adolescents: a systematic review (1987–2017)
2023, European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
The author declares no conflicts of interest.