Difficulties in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in China

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder occurring in early childhood, characterized by deficits in communication and social interaction, restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and sensory issues. ASD varies from mild to severe, dramatically affecting personal and family quality of life. Symptoms accompanying ASD may include social anxiety disorder and intellectual disability. The estimated prevalence of ASD is 1–2% globally, but China lacks national epidemiological data (Myers et al., 2019). According to an estimate of international incidence, there are 3 to 5 million children with ASD in China. Globally, early diagnosis and intervention of ASD are advocated. A study has shown that early intervention can improve the core symptoms and overall functioning of children with ASD, improving their long-term prognosis and quality of life, and that children with mild to moderate ASD have a high probability of integrating into society and achieving self-care (Lord et al., 2018). This is extremely beneficial for affected children and their families. Early detection and diagnosis are key to early intervention. However, diagnosis of ASD still occurs relatively late in China, often not until children reach school age, missing the opportunity for early intervention. A Chinese study on the age of diagnosis of children with ASD showed that 33.41% were diagnosed aged > 36 months. The age of diagnosis in remote areas is even greater (Li et al., 2018). China’s early diagnosis and treatment of ASD are problematic due to the following reasons: …