The Millennium child with autism: Early childhood trajectories for health, education and economic wellbeing

Abstract

Objective: Most of what we know about children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is based on post-diagnostic, retrospective, self-select studies. Oftentimes, there is no direct comparison between trajectories of children with ASD and children without ASD. Methods: To circumvent both of these problems, the present secondary data analysis utilised a large-scale longitudinal general population survey of children born in the year 2000 (i.e. the Millennium Cohort Study; MCS; n = 18 522). Bi-annual MCS data were available from five data sweeps (children aged 9 months to 11 years of age). Results: Pre-diagnostic data showed early health problems differentiated children later diagnosed with autism from non-diagnosed peers. Prevalence was much higher than previously estimated (3.5% for 11-year olds). Post-diagnosis, trajectories deteriorated significantly for the children with ASD and their families in relation to education, health and economic wellbeing. Conclusion: These findings raise many issues for service delivery and the rights of persons with disabilities and their families.

• Millennium Cohort Study
• autism spectrum disorder
• secondary data analysis
• applied behaviour analysis
• UK
• service delivery
• quality of life
• parents

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

This study was supported by a grant from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), Northern Ireland.