A population-based examination of maltreatment referrals and substantiation for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Marisa H Fisher, Richard A Epstein, Richard C Urbano and 3 others
PMID 30523699WHAT IT FOUND
Substantiated maltreatment was similar overall: 3.9% of children with autism and 3.4% of controls.
Referrals were higher: 17.3% versus 7.4%. Many autism referrals were screened out before further action.
Key findings
01In 24,306 children born in 2006, 387 with ASD and 23,919 controls were compared; 17.3% of ASD children were referred versus 7.4% of controls, and 10.6% versus 6.8% were screened in.
02Only 62.7% of 67 ASD referrals were screened in for further action, compared with 91.6% of 1,766 control referrals.
03Overall substantiation was similar: 3.9% of ASD children and 3.4% of controls. Among screened-in referrals, 35.7% of 42 ASD children and 50.5% of 1,618 controls did not differ significantly. Among ASD children, females had substantiated maltreatment 13.6% versus males 1.9%.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The children were only examined up to age 10, so later maltreatment or referrals were not included. The control group was not confirmed to be free of disabilities; it may include children with other disabilities, which could change the comparison. The data did not identify who made a report, what type of maltreatment was alleged, or who was alleged to have done it. ASD was treated as one group, despite wide differences in autism presentation and associated factors. The difference in substantiation among screened-in referrals was not statistically significant.
Declared interests
The supplied text lists NIH and U.S. Public Health Service support; no author conflicts of interest statement is provided.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the higher referral rate as proof that children with autism are maltreated more often. Substantiated maltreatment was similar overall, and many autism referrals were screened out before further action.