Understanding How Parents Make Meaning of Their Child's Behaviors During Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Longitudinal Qualitative Investigation.

The sample was small, with 22 parents in 19 families, and most respondents were mothers, so the themes may not represent all caregivers. It was conducted in three Early Intervention agencies in one Northeastern city with high proportions of racial/ethnic minority children and public insurance, so findings may not transfer to other settings. The study did not test whether screening improves diagnosis, retention, or child outcomes; it reported parents' experiences. Interview timing varied after each screening event, though none extended beyond 3 months, so recall differences are possible. Only parents were interviewed, not providers, so the paper cannot describe provider-side processes. The analysis did not determine whether screening misclassified children relative to true autism status.

Funding was provided by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Do not conclude that the screening protocol caused parents to accept an autism diagnosis or improved child outcomes. The study only described how parents' explanations changed over time, and it did not test effectiveness.