Chinese Parents’ Perceptions of Early Development of Their Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders

This study investigated parental perceptions of the early signs, age of initial concern, age of diagnosis, and age of initial intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in mainland China. A sample of 146 Chinese parents of children with ASD responded to an online survey. The findings suggested that parents were concerned about their child’s development at a mean age of approximately three years, obtained an initial diagnosis at an average age of four years, and procured intervention for their child at an average age of four years-three months. The results also revealed that early indicators of ASD validated in the United States were among those used hy Chinese parents, though some early signs may gain particular salience in the Chinese context. Additionally, educational implications and areas of future research are discussed.