Table 1: Select survey questions and results.
Question | Response | Frequency | Percent |
Q1. Would you be willing to have your child take a blood test that could indicate a risk of developing ASD? | Yes | 44 | 69% |
No | 21 | 21% | |
Q2. Would you be willing to have your child take a blood test that could indicate a risk of developing ASD, even if the test result will not guarantee with absolute certainty an ASD diagnosis? (i.e., your child could be called "at risk" of developing ASD, but would never actually develop any behavioral problems or ASD). | Yes | 37 | 59% |
No | 26 | 41% | |
Q3. Currently, the clinical diagnosis of ASD cannot be made until the age of 3, while the screening blood test for ASD, although not diagnostic, seems to be reliable before the age of 3. Considering the possibility of a time gap between the screening test and the age for a definitive diagnosis, would you rather have your child: | a. Tested as early as possible, even without signs suggestive of ASD | 27 | 47% |
b. Tested as early as possible only in the presence of signs suggestive of ASD | 21 | 36% | |
c. Tested at age close to 3 years, even without signs suggestive of ASD | 1 | 2% | |
d. Tested at age close to 3 years, only in the presence of signs suggestive of ASD | 9 | 15% | |
Q4. You decide to have your child tested even if he/she does not show any behavioral problems. The result you receive suggests a risk for ASD for your child. How would you mainly feel about this? | a. Glad, because the test will help identify a potential disorder and I can help my child | 44 | 75% |
b. Distressed, because of the potential challenges of raising a child with an ASD | 7 | 12% | |
c. Scared, because I would not know what to do | 5 | 8% | |
d. Upset, because ASD would affect the life of the entire family | 3 | 5% | |
Q5. If your child had a laboratory screening test indicating a high risk of developing ASD, would you enroll him/her in an early intervention program? | a. Yes, since early intervention programs do not cause harmful side effects and might help | 45 | 73% |
b. Yes, but only if the child exhibits signs suggestive of ASD | 13 | 21% | |
c. No, only children with a clinical diagnosis of ASD should be enrolled | 4 | 6% |