The relationship of parental first concerns and autism spectrum disorder in an early intervention sample

• It is imperative to identify children with ASD from an early age.
• Children present to early intervention centers due to a variety of parental concerns.
• In the present study we investigate the relationship between a variety of early concerns and the likelihood that a child will be diagnosed with ASD.
• Results of the present study illustrate the differences in ASD diagnosis between categories of first concern.

Experts in the treatment of children with developmental disabilities emphasize the need to identify at-risk children at an early age. The ability to distinguish children at risk for particular developmental disabilities, such as autism (ASD), can help to target treatment to mitigate core symptoms and the deleterious effects of early delay on developmental trajectory. The present study investigates the relationship between parental first concerns (FC) (communication, social/emotional, cognitive/adaptive/global, behavior problems, motor, hyperactivity, and medical/other concerns) on ASD diagnosis in a sample of 2905 toddlers who presented for early intervention assessment in the state of Louisiana. We also examine whether developmental quotient (DQ) contributes to a diagnosis of ASD. Individuals deemed at-risk for a developmental disability represent a heterogeneous population, and this investigation aims to provide direction for identifying children likely to be diagnosed with an ASD according to parental perceptions of disability. Findings illustrating the differences in ASD diagnosis within each FC category are discussed.