Use of early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder across Europe

• Published in: Autism : the international journal of research and practice Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 233 - 249
• Main Authors: Salomone, Erica, Beranová, Štěpánka, Bonnet-Brilhault, Frédérique, Briciet Lauritsen, Marlene, Budisteanu, Magdalena, Buitelaar, Jan, Canal-Bedia, Ricardo, Felhosi, Gabriella, Fletcher-Watson, Sue, Freitag, Christine, Fuentes, Joaquin, Gallagher, Louise, Garcia Primo, Patricia, Gliga, Fotinica, Gomot, Marie, Green, Jonathan, Heimann, Mikael, Jónsdóttir, Sigridur Loa, Kaale, Anett, Kawa, Rafal, Kylliainen, Anneli, Lemcke, Sanne, Markovska-Simoska, Silvana, Marschik, Peter B, McConachie, Helen, Moilanen, Irma, Muratori, Filippo, Narzisi, Antonio, Noterdaeme, Michele, Oliveira, Guiomar, Oosterling, Iris, Pijl, Mirjam, Pop-Jordanova, Nada, Poustka, Luise, Roeyers, Herbert, Rogé, Bernadette, Sinzig, Judith, Vicente, Astrid, Warreyn, Petra, Charman, Tony
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.02.2016; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Age; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - therapy; Autistic children; Behavior Modification; Behavior Therapy - methods; Belgium; Child, Preschool; Children; Czech Republic; Denmark; Early Intervention; Early Intervention, Educational - methods; Europe; Female; Finland; Foreign Countries; France; Germany; Humans; Hungary; Iceland; Incidence; Inequality; Interpersonal Relations; Ireland; Italy; Macedonia; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Netherlands; Norway; Parent Background; Parent Surveys; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Poland; Portugal; Predictor Variables; Regression (Statistics); Romania; Spain; Speech Therapy; Speech Therapy - methods; United Kingdom; Use Studies; Verbal Ability; Young Children; Romania; Hungary; United Kingdom; Portugal; Iceland; Spain; Czech Republic; Netherlands; Belgium; Norway; Ireland; Finland; Denmark; Poland; Italy; Macedonia; France; Germany; Europe; intervention; Europe; autism; use of early intervention
• ISSN: 1362-3613; 1461-7005; 1461-7005
• DOI: 10.1177/1362361315577218

Little is known about use of early interventions for autism spectrum disorder in Europe. Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder aged 7 years or younger (N = 1680) were recruited through parent organisations in 18 European countries and completed an online survey about the interventions their child received. There was considerable variation in use of interventions, and in some countries more than 20% of children received no intervention at all. The most frequently reported interventions were speech and language therapy (64%) and behavioural, developmental and relationship-based interventions (55%). In some parts of Europe, use of behavioural, developmental and relationship-based interventions was associated with higher parental educational level and time passed since diagnosis, rather than with child characteristics. These findings highlight the need to monitor use of intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder in Europe in order to contrast inequalities.