Abstract
It takes considerable time before Autism Spectrum Disorders are diagnosed. Validated diagnostic instruments are available,
but not applicable to primary healthcare. By means of a case–control study we investigated whether there were differences
in presented complaints and referral patterns between children with ASD (n = 49) and a control group of children without ASD (n = 81). Children with ASD were often presented as crybabies and often showed feeding problems. They visited the GP’s surgery
more often with anxiety disorders, enuresis, and sleeping disorders. They were referred more often to physiotherapists and
speech-therapists and had tympanostomy tubes and tonsillectomies more often. Depression in the parents of children with ASD
was remarkably prevalent.
but not applicable to primary healthcare. By means of a case–control study we investigated whether there were differences
in presented complaints and referral patterns between children with ASD (n = 49) and a control group of children without ASD (n = 81). Children with ASD were often presented as crybabies and often showed feeding problems. They visited the GP’s surgery
more often with anxiety disorders, enuresis, and sleeping disorders. They were referred more often to physiotherapists and
speech-therapists and had tympanostomy tubes and tonsillectomies more often. Depression in the parents of children with ASD
was remarkably prevalent.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-011-1384-9
- Authors
- Michelle A. M. M. van Tongerloo, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Hans H. J. Bor, Department of Primary and Community Care, Gender and Women’s Health, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Geert Groteplein 21, Internal number 117, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Antoine L. M. Lagro-Janssen, Department of Primary and Community Care, Gender and Women’s Health, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Geert Groteplein 21, Internal number 117, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257