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Abstract
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Aims: A comprehensive meta-analysis reported that the mean age at diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was 60.48 months (range: 30.90–234.57). When focusing solely on children aged ≤10 years, the mean age decreased to 43.18 months (range: 30.90–74.70). Factors influencing the age at ASD diagnosis include socioeconomic status, parental education level, and ASD symptom severity. This study investigated the impact of socioeconomic development on the age of ASD diagnosis in Turkey. Methods: The study included children first diagnosed with ASD according to DSM-5 in child psychiatry outpatient clinics during September–December 2024. Participants were selected from districts categorized into five levels of socioeconomic development, as defined by Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology’s 2022 Socioeconomic Development Index Report. Data collection tools included a sociodemographic form, the M-CHAT (for < 2 years old), and the CARS (for > 2 years old). Results: The mean age at ASD diagnosis varied across district levels: 36 months (Level 1), 48 months (Level 2), 71 months (Level 3), 62 months (Level 4). A significant difference was observed between highly developed and less developed districts (n = 102, p = 0.006). In highly developed districts, the time interval between symptom recognition and diagnosis was shorter (p <0.001). Higher CARS scores correlated with earlier diagnosis (p: < 0.005 r:-0.385), but no significant association was found between parental education and diagnosis age. Conclusions: ASD is diagnosed earlier in socioeconomically developed regions, facilitating timely access to intervention services. Socioeconomic development appears to influence the age of diagnosis, but ASD symptom severity also plays a critical role. Further research is needed to explore these dynamics.
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