Background: Dementia is increasingly prevalent in people with severe/profound intellectual disabilities. However, early detection and diagnosis of dementia is complex in this population. This study aimed to identify observable dementia symptoms in adults with severe/profound intellectual disabilities in available literature. Method: A systematic…

Purpose: With the increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the importance of early screening and diagnosis has been subject to considerable discussion. Given the subtle differences between ASD children and typically developing children during the early stages of development, it is imperative to investigate the utilization of…

Background/purpose: This paper systematically reviews current advancements in AI-based diagnostic tools and assistive technologies, analyzing their influence on the early detection, treatment, and educational support of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The review aims to identify both the benefits and challenges of incorporating these…

Background: Early intervention (EI) can improve a range of outcomes for families of children with developmental disabilities. However, research indicates the level of access does not always match the level of need. To address disparities, it is essential to identify factors influencing access. Method: We propose a framework where access to EI is…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition for which no prenatal or early life screening tests exist. Early life recognition of ASD is key to accessing behavioral intervention when brain plasticity is at its peak. The purpose of our study was to systematically review the literature researching parental perspectives…

According to the SEND Code of Practice (DfE, 2015), cognition and learning difficulties encompass a wide range of needs, including general and specific learning difficulties. These difficulties affect various areas of learning including literacy, numeracy, and the acquisition of subject-specific knowledge and skills and may be linked to underlying…

This rapid review, commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) and conducted from February to July 2024, aimed to identify the best available evidence to guide early years practitioners in supporting children aged 0-5 with speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN), specifically stammering, speech sound issues, and language…

This is a scoping review driven by the broad research question: What are Latinx caregivers' specific facilitators and challenges, if any, in getting a timely diagnosis/identification for their child with autism? Our search resulted in 128 articles across various disciplines. A total of 43 articles were included in the final article set. Employing…

Purpose: Children from low socioeconomic environments (SEEs; i.e., families with parental education of high school or less and/or household income at or below federal poverty threshold) reportedly produce fewer vocabulary words compared to their higher SEE peers. However, whether that indicates a language delay or disorder is unclear since…

Teacher reports are one of the most valued methods when conducting school-based screening, identification, and treatment planning for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Yet, wide cross-national variations in the administrative diagnosis of ADHD have raised concerns about the potential impact of cultural bias on teachers' assessments.…

As of 2025, over 1.7 million pupils in England are identified as having special educational needs (SEN), continuing a steady rise since 2016. These pupils face a broad range of challenges (e.g., academic, emotional, social, and physical) that affect their learning and participation. The most common type of need among pupils with an Education,…

Qualitative research articles exploring experiences of autistic women were systematically reviewed through searches on five electronical databases, alongside backward citation searches. A total 10 articles encompassing 226 participants were identified. A thematic synthesis revealed four main themes: interpersonal relationships which included four…

This scoping review analyzes empirical research studies focused on Early Intervention (EI) services, covered under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in the United States, for children birth-to-3 years old with significant support needs (SSNs). The purposes were to gauge the landscape of literature in this area, understand…

We investigated how children with language difficulties are identified, and which adapted provision is given in Norwegian Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) before referrals are made to The Educational Psychological Service (EPS), and the EPS assessment of such difficulties. A qualitative content analysis of 20 documents pertaining to four…

It is widely acknowledged that girls are less likely to receive an autism diagnosis compared to boys (Gould, J. 2017. "Towards Understanding the Under-Recognition of Girls and Women on the Autism Spectrum." "Autism" 21 (6): 703-705), with growing recognition that girls are underserved by the current clinical diagnostic…