title: Factors related to parental age of first concern in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The age of first concern (AOC) of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has substantial implications for early diagnosis and intervention. The current study sought to determine the average AOC, what types of first concerns are most common, and what factors predict earlier AOC in toddlers with ASD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study analyzed the predictive influence of the type of concern, symptom severity, medical diagnoses, and other independent variables on AOC among toddlers with ASD using multiple regressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean AOC was found to be 13.97 months (SD = 7.86). The most commonly reported first concern was speech/language. First concerns related to communication, speech/language predicted later AOC, while motor concerns predicted earlier AOC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concerns that are more closely related to social communication deficits characteristic of ASD predicted later AOC. The implications of these findings on screening/assessment and intervention are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , LA , USA.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matheis
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , LA , USA.
authors.forename: Johnny L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Matson
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , LA , USA.
authors.forename: Claire O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , LA , USA.
authors.forename: Xinrui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , LA , USA.
authors.forename: W Jason
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , LA , USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , LA , USA.
authors.forename: Kaitlin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: de Back
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , LA , USA.
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Estabillo
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010290:Parents
keywords: Age of first concern; autism spectrum disorder; early identification; early intervention