Autism detected later in minority kids

WASHINGTON -- Early diagnosis is considered key for autism, but minority children tend to be diagnosed later than white children.

Some new work is beginning to try to uncover why, and to raise awareness of the warning signs so more parents know they can seek help even for a toddler.

"The biggest thing I want parents to know is we can do something about it to help your child," says Dr. Rebecca Landa, autism director at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.

Her preliminary research suggests that, even when diagnosed in toddlerhood, minority youngsters have more severe developmental delays. She says cultural differences in how parents view developmental milestones, and how they interact with doctors, may play a role.

Consider: Tots tend to point before they talk, but pointing is rude in some cultures and may not be missed by a new parent, Landa says. Or maybe Mom's worried that her son isn't talking yet but the family matriarch, her grandmother, says don't worry -- Cousin Harry spoke late, too, and he's fine.

It's possible to detect autism as early as 14 months of age, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening starting at 18 months. There's no cure, but behavioral and other therapies are thought to work best when started very young.

Yet, on average, U.S. children aren't diagnosed until they're about 4 1/2 years old, according to government statistics. And troubling studies show that white children may be diagnosed with autism as much as a year and a half earlier than black and other minority children, says University of Pennsylvania autism expert David Mandell, who led much of that work.