英文摘要 |
According to the data published on the website of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, only 18 children (age, 0–3 years) were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2021. Despite the small number of children, early intervention is known to be crucial. Notably, if children are diagnosed with ASD after the age of 3 years and interventions are initiated thereafter, they are likely to have missed the golden period of treatment. International studies have demonstrated that children with ASD may be accurately diagnosed before 24 months of age, whereas domestic studies have reported a severe lack of screening tools for the identification of ASD in infants and young children. Based on this viewpoint, international studies have reported that children diagnosed with ASD after the age of 3 years demonstrate unique trajectories of temperament development during the first year of life. The authors of these studies further argued that temperament is an important characteristic and early risk marker for understanding the development of ASD in early childhood. Based on the abovementioned viewpoints, the discussion section can be written in 4 sections. The first section reviews the different theoretical approaches of temperament. The second section reviews international studies on the temperament of infants and young children with ASD, particularly focusing on the following two aspects: (a) temperamental differences between infants and young children with and without ASD and (b) trajectories of temperament development in children with ASD during early childhood. The third section reviews domestic studies on the temperament of infants and young children with ASD. The fourth section proposes recommendations for practice and academic research. Regarding clinical practice, the present study suggests that interventions should be implemented based on the assessment of temperament in infants and young children. Regarding academic research, we suggest conducting prospective long-term studies of the trajectories of temperament development in children with ASD. In conclusion, the assessment of temperament in infants and young children may provide critical references to psychologists and child psychiatrists for diagnosing ASD in young children, and it can provide an essential basis for parents, teachers, and clinical professionals to understand and care for young children with ASD. Moreover, temperament can be used to facilitate the early identification of behaviors and symptoms related to ASD in young children, which, in turn, can enable early treatment, thereby reducing the heavy burden on the family, society, and healthcare system in the future. |