OBJECTIVE:

Investigations about first concerns among parents of toddlers with ASD and comparisons of the same with children diagnosed with other developmental disorders are scarce.

METHOD:

The current study utilized a sample of toddlers diagnosed with an ASD or other developmental delay and examined the nature of parents' first concern and the age of first concern compared to the age of first assessment.

RESULTS:

The majority of parents of both toddlers diagnosed with ASD and non-ASD related developmental delays indicated that the area of first concern was in communication. However, the age of first concern was significantly younger for toddlers with an ASD diagnosis. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the age at which concerns were first noted and the age at which assessment was sought.

CONCLUSION:

The implications of these findings are discussed as they relate to early assessment and intervention.