Health Knowledge About Early Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case for Soft Transdiagnostic Approaches to Better Represent the Clinical and Scientific Reality of ASD

Mirah Dow () and Ting Wang
Additional contact information
Mirah Dow: School of Library and Information Management, Emporia State University, 1 Kellogg Circle, Emporia, KS 66801, USA
Ting Wang: School of Library and Information Management, Emporia State University, 1 Kellogg Circle, Emporia, KS 66801, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 6, 1-21

Abstract: Objective: This study explores the current state of science regarding DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in young children. It examines the effectiveness of existing diagnostic methods and evaluates the potential of transdiagnostic approaches for early intervention. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted using MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and the Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, focusing on peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2023. The search followed PRISMA guidelines, selecting articles investigating ASD diagnosis in toddlers and preschoolers using DSM-5 criteria, behavioral assessments, and emerging diagnostic tools. Results: Findings indicate that DSM-5 provides a structured framework for ASD diagnosis, but it has limitations in early identification. It is necessary to integrate multiple assessment tools. Recent research highlights transdiagnostic models, which move beyond rigid diagnostic categories to capture the complexities of ASD presentation in young children. Conclusion: The literature supports a shift towards a transdiagnostic approach that combines behavioral, biological, and environmental assessments. This study underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to refine ASD diagnostic frameworks to ensure more accurate and timely diagnoses that better serve affected children and their families.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; young children; DSM-5; neurodiversity; transdiagnosis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/6/816/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/6/816/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:6:p:816-:d:1662028

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().