Abstract
Objective: Most of what we know about children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is based on post-diagnostic, retrospective, self-select studies. Oftentimes, there is no direct comparison between trajectories of children with ASD and children without ASD.
Methods: To circumvent both of these problems, the present secondary data analysis utilised a large-scale longitudinal general population survey of children born in the year 2000 (i.e. the Millennium Cohort Study; MCS; n=18522). Bi-annual MCS data were available from five data sweeps (children aged 9 months to 11 years of age).
Results: Pre-diagnostic data showed early health problems differentiated children later diagnosed with autism from non-diagnosed peers. Prevalence was much higher than previously estimated (3.5% for 11-year olds). Post-diagnosis, trajectories deteriorated significantly for the children with ASD and their families in relation to education, health and economic wellbeing.
Conclusion: These findings raise many issues for service delivery and the rights of persons with disabilities and their families.
Methods: To circumvent both of these problems, the present secondary data analysis utilised a large-scale longitudinal general population survey of children born in the year 2000 (i.e. the Millennium Cohort Study; MCS; n=18522). Bi-annual MCS data were available from five data sweeps (children aged 9 months to 11 years of age).
Results: Pre-diagnostic data showed early health problems differentiated children later diagnosed with autism from non-diagnosed peers. Prevalence was much higher than previously estimated (3.5% for 11-year olds). Post-diagnosis, trajectories deteriorated significantly for the children with ASD and their families in relation to education, health and economic wellbeing.
Conclusion: These findings raise many issues for service delivery and the rights of persons with disabilities and their families.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 37-46 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Developmental Neurorehabilitation |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 07 Oct 2014 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2015 |
Keywords
- Applied behaviour analysis
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Millennium Cohort Study
- Parents
- Quality of life
- Secondary data analysis
- Service delivery
- UK
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Rehabilitation
- Developmental Neuroscience
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Cite this
Dillenburger, K., Jordan, J. A., McKerr, L., & Keenan, M. (2015). The Millennium child with autism: Early childhood trajectories for health, education and economic wellbeing. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 18(1), 37-46. https://doi.org/10.3109/17518423.2014.964378