Challenges of case identification and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in China: A critical review of procedures, assessment, and diagnostic criteria

The estimated prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in China has been consistently lower than most of the studies in the West. The current article addressed several challenges in identifying and diagnosing ASD in mainland China. The underestimated prevalence may due to a variety of reasons, including inconsistencies in screening and diagnostic procedures, variations in translated instruments, and discrepancies between diagnostic criteria. This review provides insight into ASD assessment and diagnosis in the Chinese population and discusses strategies for the further advancement of ASD identification and intervention in mainland China.