Families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face challenges engaging in services following diagnosis. This study: (1) developed and implemented a toolkit to tailor ASD evaluation feedback to families' needs, and (2) evaluated caregiver and provider perceptions of the toolkit. Focus groups with providers (N = 11) informed toolkit…

Background: The Canadian fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) diagnostic guideline provides clinicians with the process and procedure to reach an accurate diagnosis. However, organisational structure, culture, and resource utilisation vary. The objectives of this study were to identify the key challenges and strengths of successful FASD…

Part C early intervention (EI) starts no earlier than birth, even with a prenatal diagnosis resulting in automatic eligibility. Despite other early U.S. home visiting programs beginning prenatally and the increasing likelihood of uncovering certain diagnoses prenatally, pregnant families cannot access EI. This study sought to understand families'…

Purpose: Despite advances in screening and awareness, Black and multiracial families continue to experience challenges when seeking an autism diagnosis for their children. Methods: We surveyed 400 Black and multiracial families of young children with autism from an existing research database in the United States about their retrospective…

The process of getting an autism diagnosis can be a stressful and uncertain time for families. While the experiences of parents seeking an autism diagnosis for their child have been explored in previous research, the experiences of families with a daughter have been underrepresented. It is likely that their experience is markedly different given…

Background: Extensive variation in the terminology used for paediatric diagnoses across the speech and language therapy research literature is an internationally recognized problem. Little is known, however, about how and how often diagnoses are given in a clinical context. In the UK, speech and language therapists (SLTs) identify and support…

As rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) increase, there is an increasing need for clinicians who offer accurate ASD assessments. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) is a standardized assessment tool that is commonly recommended for use in comprehensive ASD evaluations. However, practitioners do not always follow…

Identifying gifted students in today's complex context requires precision in both the definition of the concept and its constituent characteristics. However, there are discrepancies worldwide in the instruments established to diagnose gifted students. This study undertook a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the most representative…

Adults with ADHD maintain some success in higher education but underperform their non-ADHD peers despite having normal intelligence. This study explored the essence of the lived experiences of female graduate students with ADHD navigating their academic journeys in graduate school. Using a phenomenological approach through the lens of…

To understand the ASD diagnosis and treatment pathways for US families, N = 38 Mexican-heritage mothers were interviewed about how and when they obtained an ASD diagnosis for their children. Most children (84%) were diagnosed between two and three years old. One-third of mothers reported receiving four to seven referrals before diagnosis. Mothers…

Timely recognition of autism in children is integral to improve developmental outcomes. This study used mixed-methods (84 case-registers and 20 in-depth interviews with caregivers of children with a diagnosis of autism) to explore the extent to which the nature of parental concerns and prior knowledge of developmental disorders impact the time…

Purpose: Dyslexia, a neurobiological phonological processing deficit, can be identified early; however, there is a substantial variation between and within states regarding who makes this diagnosis and when. Dyslexia evaluations are often challenging to obtain and very expensive for families who need to seek them outside of the school setting. The…

Research has found 96% of autistic individuals experience sensory processing difficulties, and being a parent presents many sensory demands that may be especially challenging for autistic mothers. Despite the high prevalence, no research exists exploring the sensory experiences of autistic mothers, highlighting the gap in current knowledge.…

Objectives: Assessing functional impairment is one of the essential components in the clinical evaluation of ADHD in adulthood, serving both diagnostic and outcome evaluation purposes. However, clinicians and researchers may face challenges in selecting suitable instruments due to variations in accessibility and quality of instruments. Methods: We…

The present study explored the role race-related barriers and practical barriers to treatment participation play in treatment effectiveness and satisfaction among Black families with autistic youth using a mixed-method approach. In a sample of Black caregivers with autistic youth (N = 101), multiple regressions were conducted to examine the impact…