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Exploring the Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of a Sample of Children Referred for Suspected Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Pittenger, Alexis A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1396374490

Abstract Details

2012, Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, Psychology.
This study explored the demographic and clinical characteristics of children referred and evaluated for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This study was conducted using the clinical records of 510 children ages five years and younger referred to a specialty clinic at a large, Midwestern children's hospital in 2008 and 2009. One goal of this study, which was primarily exploratory in nature, was to add to a small but growing body of literature addressing the demographic factors associated with an ASD diagnosis. It was hypothesized that children referred with communication concerns would be significantly more likely to be diagnosed with an ASD, when demographic factors were controlled. Exploratory analyses were conducted to determine which demographic and clinical variables were significantly associated with a final diagnosis of ASD. Results showed that children diagnosed with ASD (n = 291) were more likely to be referred with communication concerns than those not diagnosed on the autism spectrum (n = 219). Children in the ASD group were also found to be significantly younger than those in the Not ASD group. No significant differences were found between the two groups on the variables race or sex, or the remaining referral concerns. Results of logistic regression indicated that probability of being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder increased for children referred with communication concerns as compared to those referred with other types of concerns. The results of this study are discussed, as well as implications for future research.
Janet Schultz, Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Chair)
Kathleen Hart, Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member)
Kimberly Kroeger-Geoppinger, Psy.D. (Committee Member)
Cynthia Molloy, M.D., M.S. (Committee Member)
141 p.
Clinical Psychology
Autism spectrum disorders in children; communicative disorders in children

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pittenger, A. A. (2012). Exploring the Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of a Sample of Children Referred for Suspected Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1396374490

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pittenger, Alexis. Exploring the Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of a Sample of Children Referred for Suspected Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). 2012. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1396374490.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pittenger, Alexis. "Exploring the Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of a Sample of Children Referred for Suspected Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1396374490

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Psychology and OhioLINK.