In an ideal world, parents with children who have autism will get an immediate diagnosis and the ability to begin treatment right away. In many situations, this will allow them to apply for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration to get additional aid for medical bills. However, a recent study found that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder had 14 percent fewer proactive responses than parents with other development or intellectual disorders.
Dr. Katharine Zuckerman, of Doembecher Children’s Hospital at Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland, said in a study in the Journal of Pediatrics that proactive responses, such as discussing concerns with the schools, development tests and specialist referrals, were far more rare for children with autism spectrum disorder. Passive response was more likely, which included saying “the child might grow out of it” or that ” it was too early to tell if anything was wrong.”
In addition, Zuckerman and colleagues found that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder often brought their children in to doctors nearly a full year before those with other intellectual disorders. This passive diagnosis could cause a year-plus delay in the proper treatment of the child.
“Each proactive response to parents’ concerns was associated with a reduction in the mean delay between first conversation and ASD diagnosis by at least 1 year,” according to the authors of the study.
The Law Offices of Harold W. Conick & Associates, Ltd. are experts in presenting medical evidence of autism. We have successfully represented numerous children afflicted with autism before administrative judges of the Social Security Administration.
