Service encounters across the lifespan in individuals with autism spectrum disorders: Results from a multisite study in Latin America

Authors

Cecilia Montiel-Nava, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Sebastián Cukier
Gabriela Garrido
Daniel Valdez
Cristiane Paula
Ricardo García
Analía Rosoli
Matías Irarrázaval
Alexia Rattazzi

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2020

Abstract

Background Core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continue to affect everyday life as children grow and transition into adulthood. That way, different services may be needed at various stages of their lifetimes. This study aimed to describe service encounters and hours of service per week for individuals with ASD in Latin American countries and compare the data from three age groups (preschoolers, school-aged, and adolescents).

Methods: The data were obtained from an online survey adapted by Red Espectro Autista Latinoamerica (REAL) in 6 different countries in South & Central America. The total sample was composed of 2520 caregivers of children and adolescents with ASD.

Results: Services encounters for Speech, Occupational and Behavioral Therapies decreased with patient age, while medication increased. Regardless of the age group, a large proportion of individuals (19-37%) were not receiving treatment, and those receiving treatment got fewer hours than best practice recommendations. For adolescents, the gaps in treatment are even greater and less consistent.

Discussion Failure to offer timely identification and intervention for ASD will result in more impairment of the individual and burden for the family. Although there are several initiatives to develop more resources for this population in Latin-America, the provision of services for ASD is still undervalued. Many such individuals might not be receiving the services they need, while most children are mainly receiving therapies with low to moderate evidence at a frequency below the recommended standards.

Comments

© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Original published version available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2020.101670

Recommended Citation

Montiel-Nava, C., Cukier, S., Garrido, G., Valdez, D., Paula, C. S., García, R., Rosoli, A., Irarrázaval, M., & Rattazzi, A. (2020). Service encounters across the lifespan in individuals with autism spectrum disorders: Results from a multisite study in Latin America. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 79, 101670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2020.101670

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Publication Title

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

DOI

10.1016/j.rasd.2020.101670