CISLL Publications

Author ORCID Identifier

Allison Gladfelter: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2573-2035

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology

Abstract

Purpose: Although autism can be reliably diagnosed by 18 months of age, long wait times and limited access to qualified providers prevent families from obtaining timely diagnostic services. Trained speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are qualified to diagnose autism, ideally as part of a multidisciplinary team. SLPs working on early intervention (EI) teams are well-situated to help close this diagnostic wait time gap. The purpose of this survey study was to explore EI SLPs’ experiences serving autistic children, confidence in identifying and diagnosing autism, and their perceptions of barriers or facilitators to diagnostic confidence and wait times.

Method: 287 EI SLPs from 23 states responded to survey questions about experiences, beliefs, and confidence in diagnosing autism. Descriptive statistics were conducted to determine self-reported confidence, barriers, and facilitators.

Results: An overwhelming majority of EI SLPs felt confident in their ability to identify autism in toddlers. However, reported confidence in their ability to diagnose autism was much lower. Greater awareness of diagnosis as within our scope of practice, promoting autism acceptance (reducing caregiver resistance), and access to diagnostic tool training and diagnostic experts would reportedly increase confidence and potentially facilitate more timely diagnosis.

Conclusions: Findings indicate that EI SLPs are confident in their ability to identify autism in toddlers; however, several barriers prevent them from diagnosing autism. Eliminating these barriers could help EI SLPs reduce the long diagnostic wait times experienced by families.

First Page

712

Last Page

729

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_ajslp-25-00213

Publication Date

3-10-2026

Department

Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literature| School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders

Special Interest Group

Diversity and Language Processing

Sponsorship

NIU Center for the Inderdisciplinary Study of Langauge and Literacy; NIU University Honors Program

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