Implementing the Get SET Early Model in a Community Setting to Lower the Age of ASD Diagnosis.
Christopher J Smith, Stephen James, Erica Skepnek and 6 others
PMID 36443921WHAT IT FOUND
Implementing the Get SET model in community pediatric practices lowered the average age of autism diagnosis to 22.9 months.
Screening tool use rose from 15% to 74%, and referrals increased from 24% to 79%. However, only 22% of diagnosed children started ABA therapy.
Key findings
01The Get SET model significantly lowered the age of autism diagnosis compared to surveillance data, with an average diagnosis age of 22.9 months.
02Provider behavior changed substantially, with screening tool use increasing from 15% to 74% and evaluation referrals increasing from 24% to 79%.
03While 74% of diagnosed children enrolled in treatment, only 22% of those with ASD began Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
There was no true control group; comparisons were made to surveillance data and a small independent provider network, which may not fully account for secular trends in ASD awareness. The sample of providers was self-selected and recruited from areas with racial and ethnic diversity, which may limit generalizability to other community settings. Attrition in provider surveys was significant, dropping from 85 respondents at baseline to 58 at follow-up, which affects the certainty of the behavioral change data. The study relies on a self-selected sample of families who consented to evaluation, potentially missing children whose parents did not follow through with referrals. Screening data was collected by hand, introducing potential for error compared to electronic methods.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The study was conducted by researchers associated with the Get SET model, which they are promoting.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that early diagnosis automatically leads to access to all evidence-based treatments. While the model lowered the age of diagnosis, only 22% of children with ASD started ABA therapy, and 26% of diagnosed children had no treatment one year later. Early identification is a necessary first step, but it does not guarantee that families can navigate the system to get the specific interventions they might need.