Service Use Classes Among School-aged Children From the Autism Treatment Network Registry
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Use of specific services may help to optimize health for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, little is known about their service use patterns. We aimed to (1) define service use groups and (2) determine associations of sociodemographic, developmental, behavioral, and health characteristics with service use groups among schoolaged children with ASD.
METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data on 1378 children aged 6 to 18 years with an ASD
diagnosis from the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network registry for 2008–2015, which
included 16 US sites and 2 Canadian sites. Thirteen service use indicators spanning behavioral
and medical treatments (eg, developmental therapy, psychotropic medications, and special
diets) were examined. Latent class analysis was used to identify groups of children with
similar service use patterns.
RESULTS: By using latent class analysis, school-aged children with ASD were placed into 4 service
use classes: limited services (12.0%), multimodal services (36.4%), predominantly
educational and/or behavioral services (42.6%), or predominantly special diets and/or
natural products (9.0%). Multivariable analysis results revealed that compared with children
in the educational and/or behavioral services class, those in the multimodal services class had
greater ASD severity and more externalizing behavior problems, those in the limited services
class were older and had less ASD severity, and those in the special diets and/or natural
products class had higher income and poorer quality of life.
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we identified 4 service use groups among school-aged children with
ASD that may be related to certain sociodemographic, developmental, behavioral, and health
characteristics. Study findings may be used to better support providers and families in
decision-making about ASD services.