RESUMO
We investigated the influence of developmental and social factors on the age of autism diagnosis (AoD) in a cohort of toddlers living in Chile. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 509 preschool children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder [M = 40.2 months (SD = 8.6), girls: 32%] in the neurodevelopmental unit of a university clinic in Santiago, Chile (2015-2023). Structural changes in the annual trend of AoD were tested. Generalized linear models (gamma distribution) with and without interaction terms were used for the multivariate analysis, adjusting for gender, residential area, year of diagnosis, developmental variables (language regression, delayed walking, and use of expressive verbal language), and primary caregiver age and education level (CEL). 95% confidence intervals of the unstandardized regression coefficients (B) were calculated using 1000 bootstrap resampling to estimate associations. AoD increased between 2021-2022 and decreased in 2023. Female gender (B = 2.72 [1.21-4.23]), no history of language regression (B = 3.97 [1.66-6.28]), and the presence of expressive verbal language at diagnosis (B = 1.57 [0.05-3.08]) were associated with higher AoD. Children whose caregivers had tertiary education were diagnosed earlier than those with ≤ 12 years of formal education. Although the influence of CEL increased with caregiver age, differences between CEL groups were significant only for caregivers aged ≥ 30 years. Improved education and early screening for clinical features of autism among healthcare professionals and the community, with a focus on young children without highly apparent developmental concerns and those from vulnerable social groups, are warranted.
RESUMO
El lenguaje oral es un sistema dinámico de símbolos convencionales que involucra múltiples estructuras anatómicas y funcionales interactuando entre si para codificar y decodificar señales durante el intercambio de información e ideas. El proceso de adquisición del lenguaje durante la infancia ha sido objeto de estudio desde diversas perspectivas teóricas complementarias. Aunque el desarrollo del lenguaje es un proceso complejo con numerosos eventos superpuestos, puede dividirse en dos fases principales. La etapa prelingüística abarca desde el nacimiento hasta aproximadamente los 12 meses. Durante este período, los niños adquieren habilidades comunicativas básicas, previas a la articulación de palabras, que incluyen la capacidad para discriminar sonidos del habla, categorizar fonemas propios de su lengua nativa y distinguir palabras en su idioma nativo. La etapa lingüística finaliza alrededor de los 6 a 7 años, cuando los niños ya dominan todos los fonemas de su idioma y han desarrollado una gramática madura. Esta etapa puede dividirse en varias subetapas que reflejan la adquisición de los fonemas de la lengua nativa, la expansión del vocabulario y el aumento de la comprensión y el uso de las funciones del lenguaje. Reconocer estas etapas con sus respectivos hitos es esencial para identificar posibles alteraciones en el desarrollo típico del habla y la comunicación, facilitando así una intervención temprana.
Spoken language is a dynamic system of conventional symbols that requires the interaction of multiple anatomical and functional systems. These structures work together to encode and decode signals to exchange information and ideas. Language acquisition in childhood has been extensively studied from several complementary theoretical perspectives. Although language development is a complex process involving a large number of overlapping events, it can be broadly divided into two stages. The prelinguistic phase occurs between birth and approximately 12 months of age. During this period, children develop basic communicative skills, such as recognizing speech sounds, classifying the phonemes of their native language, and understanding words in their language, all before they can articulate words themselves. By the age of 6 to 7, children have fully integrated all the phonemes of their language and have developed a mature grammar. This linguistic stage can be divided into several subphases that reflect the acquisition of native language phonemes, vocabulary expansion, and increased comprehension and use of language functions. Recognizing these stages and their corresponding milestones is essential for identifying potential deviations from typical language and communication development. This awareness allows for early intervention when needed
Assuntos
Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Lactente , Pré-Escolar , Criança , Desenvolvimento da Linguagem , IdiomaRESUMO
This study examined the agreement of perceived health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between caregivers and autistic children and adolescents (n = 133, 5-12 years) using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core Scales, Fourth Edition (PedsQL 4.0). Results reveal good to excellent agreement over this age range across the total, physical, and psychosocial health scales. However, the emotional, social, and school functioning scores demonstrated lower agreement in dyads with children aged 5-7 than in dyads with children aged 8-12 years. Despite these differences in agreement, overall, the PedsQL 4.0 caregiver-module is a reliable instrument for measuring HRQOL in autistic individuals aged 5-12 years.