Use of early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder across Europe.
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.
King's College London, UK erica.salomone@kcl.ac.uk.
Erica
E
Salomone
Charles University and University Hospital Motol, Czech Republic.
Štěpánka
Š
Beranová
Université François Rabelais de Tours, France.
Frédérique
F
Bonnet-Brilhault
Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
Marlene
M
Briciet Lauritsen
Titu Maiorescu University, Romania.
Magdalena
M
Budisteanu
Radboud University, The Netherlands.
Jan
J
Buitelaar
Universidad de Salamanca, Spain.
Ricardo
R
Canal-Bedia
Budapest and Kispest Child Mental Health Institute, Hungary.
Gabriella
G
Felhosi
University of Edinburgh, UK.
Sue
S
Fletcher-Watson
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Christine
C
Freitag
Policlinica Gipuzkoa, Spain.
Joaquin
J
Fuentes
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
Louise
L
Gallagher
Rare Diseases Research Institute (IIER) of the National Institute of Health of Spain (IIER-NIH Carlos III), Spain.
Patricia
P
Garcia Primo
University of Bucharest, Romania.
Fotinica
F
Gliga
Université François Rabelais de Tours, France.
Marie
M
Gomot
Booth Hall Children's Hospital, UK.
Jonathan
J
Green
Linköping University, Sweden.
Mikael
M
Heimann
State Diagnostic and Counselling Centre, Iceland.
Sigridur Loa
SL
Jónsdóttir
Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
Anett
A
Kaale
University of Warsaw, Poland.
Rafal
R
Kawa
University of Tampere, Finland.
Anneli
A
Kylliainen
Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
Sanne
S
Lemcke
Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Macedonia.
Silvana
S
Markovska-Simoska
Medical University of Graz, Austria.
Peter B
PB
Marschik
Newcastle University, UK.
Helen
H
McConachie
Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Finland.
Irma
I
Moilanen
IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Italy.
Filippo
F
Muratori
IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Italy.
Antonio
A
Narzisi
Josefinum, Germany.
Michele
M
Noterdaeme
Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal.
Guiomar
G
Oliveira
Radboud University, The Netherlands.
Iris
I
Oosterling
Radboud University, The Netherlands.
Mirjam
M
Pijl
Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Macedonia.
Nada
N
Pop-Jordanova
University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Luise
L
Poustka
Ghent University, Belgium.
Herbert
H
Roeyers
Université de Toulouse - Le Mirail, France.
Bernadette
B
Rogé
LVR-Klinik Bonn, Germany.
Judith
J
Sinzig
Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Portugal.
Astrid
A
Vicente
Ghent University, Belgium.
Petra
P
Warreyn
King's College London, UK.
Tony
T
Charman
D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*
Europe; autism; intervention; use of early intervention