Educ 244 Test 1, Lecture 5 Flashcards
Overdiagnosis
The excessive use of diagnoses, pathologizing normal development.
Underdiagnosis
Missed diagnoses, or diagnosis substitution (e.g., autism misdiagnosed as ADHD).
Stigma of Diagnosis
Negative social attitudes and discrimination faced by individuals with diagnoses.
Categorical Diagnosis
A “yes/no” approach to diagnosis, which can be problematic for conditions on a continuum.
Continuous Concept of Diagnosis
The idea that many conditions exist on a spectrum, not as distinct categories.
Homotypic Continuity
A disorder continuing through life.
Heterotypic Continuity
Moving from one diagnosis to another over time.
Main Reason Parents Seek Diagnosis
To access treatment and support for their child.
Key Barriers to Diagnosis (Kercher et al. 2024)
Waitlists (53%), cost (43%), not knowing who to contact (36%).
Common Parent Experiences (Sainsbury et al. 2023)
Not being believed, long wait times, poor communication, financial burden.
Barriers for Māori Families (Tupou et al. 2023)
Reluctance to “complain,” cultural views on labels, system not set up for Māori approaches.
Diagnosis Pathway in Aotearoa
Parents/whanau notice differences (atypical development) → Parents/whanau present first concern to GP → GP referral to specialists → (wait list) → Number of specialists private/public (private diagnosis often has to be confirmed by public professional, especially when medication is involves) → (wait list) → Diagnosis given
Average Wait Time for Autism Diagnosis (Eggleston et al. 2019)
5.3 months
Multi-Disciplinary Team in Autism Assessment
A team of professionals with various expertise to provide a comprehensive diagnosis.
Ministry of Education’s Role in Diagnosis
Non-diagnostic service, focuses on providing support.
Challenges with Private Diagnosis
High cost, often requires public system confirmation, long wait list.
Screening vs. Diagnosis
Screening is faster and cheaper, but less specific; diagnosis is more thorough but resource-intensive.
B4 School Check
Universal screening for 4-5-year-olds in NZ, covering hearing, vision, and developmental concerns.
MoSAIC Screening Project
Screening for autism in children aged 11-60 months, using the SACS-r+PR rating scale.
False Negatives and False Positives in Screening
Inevitable trade-off in screening to avoid subjecting everyone to full diagnostic assessments.
Discontinuity
(moving from having diagnosis to no diagnosis/no more disorder)
