Mapping the Dilemmas Parents Face with Disclosing Autism Diagnosis to their Child.

This study looked at the difficult decisions parents face about telling their autistic child about their diagnosis. Researchers spoke with parents and found they worry about many things: when is the right time to tell their child, how autism affects their child's identity, dealing with stigma, and how others might react. The study shows that these decisions are complex and personal for each family.

This 2023 qualitative study explored the complex dilemmas parents face when deciding whether, when, and how to disclose their child's autism diagnosis to the child. Using focus groups and online surveys, researchers identified six interconnected areas of concern: the invisible nature of autism, stigma associated with the term 'autism', timing considerations, environmental factors, the disclosure process itself, and impacts on the child's personal narrative. The study developed a comprehensive model mapping these parental dilemmas, highlighting that diagnosis disclosure decisions are multifaceted and deeply personal for families. The research provides valuable insights into a common yet under-explored challenge in autism care.

Clinicians should provide comprehensive support addressing multiple interconnected concerns when helping parents navigate diagnosis disclosure decisions. A structured approach considering timing, stigma, environmental factors, and narrative impact may be beneficial for families.

Sample size not reported. Study methodology unclear from abstract. Generalizability uncertain without demographic details. Limited information about participant characteristics or data collection procedures.

The diagnosis of autism is often delivered solely to the parents, a practice that forces them to confront the dilemma of whether, when and how they should disclose it to the child. The present study seeks to probe deeper into the phenomenon of diagnosis disclosure and lead to a clearer understanding of the dilemmas parents? face. This article presents an analysis of a focus group and an online survey conducted with parents. The analysis produced a model that maps parents' dilemmas regarding diagnosis disclosure to their child.

The dilemmas, found to be complex and interconnected, concern the invisible nature of autism, the word autism and stigma, time motif, child's environment, the act of disclosure itself, and the child's personal narrative.