Attached
Background
Early diagnosis o f au tism is im p o rta n t since Early
In te n s iv e B e h a v io u ra l In te r v e n tio n s im p ro v e s
o u tc o m e . A ge a t p re s e n ta tio n to child psychiatry
services in Sri Lanka and th e factors determ inin g it
have not been established. These w ould be useful in
planning service provision. The objective o f this study
w as to assess th e patterns and factors affecting age
a t p res en tatio n o f ch ildren w ith au tism to a child
m ental health clinic a t Lady Ridgeway Hospital.
M e th o d
All patients diagnosed as having autism registered at
a child m ental health clinic a t Lady Ridgeway Hospital
fro m January to D ecem b er 20 13 w e re included. Data
w as collected retrospectively fro m clinic records.
Results
H alf o f th e participants had presented a t th e age o f 3
ye ars o r less. S peech d e la y w as th e c o m m o n e s t
presenting co m p lain t (5 8.5% ). Age a t presentatio n
show ed a significant association w ith th e natu re o f
th e presen tin g sym p tom s, w ith ch ild ren w h o had
speech delay presenting a t an e a rlie r age (p = 0.02).
Th ere was no significant association b e tw ee n age at
p re s e n ta tio n an d g e n d e r o f th e c h ild , p a re n ta l
ed u catio n level, incom e o r w h e th e r th e child w as
living w ith extended fam ily.
Conclusion
Speech delay is th e com m onest reason fo r children
w ith autism to be brought to health services, and it
m ay prom pt early presentation. Education ab ou t o th er
s y m p to m s m a y fu r t h e r h e lp to e n s u re e a rly
presentation.
