ERIC Number: EJ1460704
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jan
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: EISSN-1573-3432
Available Date: 2023-12-08
Parents' and Teachers' Perspectives of Autism and Co-Morbidity Symptom Severity in Young Children with ASD over One School Year
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v55 n1 p237-249 2025
Purpose: Only a few studies examined the longitudinal pattern of parent-teacher reports on autism severity and comorbidities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and yielded conflicting results. The study's aims were to compare parents and teachers' perception of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety symptoms severity in children with ASD, at the start (T1) and end (T2) of the school year, to assess changes in their perception over time and to examine correlations between their reports. Methods: The study included 73 participants, (M = 61), aged 2:10 - 7:6 years (M = 4:10, SD = 1:0), who attended ASD special education classes and were receiving intensive interventions. Parents and teachers completed measures of autism severity and ADHD and anxiety symptoms at T1 and T2. Results: Teachers, in comparison to parents, rated more severe social-communication impairments and inattention symptoms at T1, but not at T2. A significant improvement in teachers' ratings of autism and inattention symptoms severity was documented at T2. At both time points, parents reported more severe anxiety symptoms. Significant correlations between parents' and teachers' reports were noted for autism severity at T1 and T2, but not for inattention and anxiety symptoms severity. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the contribution of multiple perspectives for better collaboration between home and school environments. Obtaining accurate information from parents and teachers at the start of the school year may help to identify factors needed for better adjustment at school and to better address difficulties at home.
Descriptors: Parent Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Severity (of Disability), Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Comorbidity, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Anxiety, Attitude Change, Correlation, Special Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center, The Autism Center Alut, Department of Pediatrics, Zerifin, Israel; 2Bruckner Center for Autism Research, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel; 3Ariel University, Department of Communication Disorders, Ariel, Israel; 4Tel Aviv University, The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel