Özet:

Aim: We aim to determine the level of awareness regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) that parents of children diagnosed with ASD, identify the problems they encounter in their daily lives and social areas. Method: The study included 109 parents whose children had previously been diagnosed with ASD according to the DSM-5 and were being followed up at the Child Psychiatry Clinic and who provided written consent for participation in the study. The questionnaire that was developed to be used in the study after a thorough literature review on the subject consisted of 83 questions directed at assessing the parents in terms of their level of knowledge about ASD, the difficulties they encountered diagnosis process. Results: Some of the noteworthy findings of our work include: Of the participants, 56% stated never hearing of ASD before, 61% not knowing that the level of intelligence could vary in ASD, and 74% thinking of ASD as a disorder seen only in children. 52% of the participants reported that the development of their children between ages 0-2 was monitored at a regular health center, 88% reported that the first to grow concerned about the development of their children were themselves and their extended family and 52.3% reported that their concerns about the development of their children appeared at ages 1-2. Consequently, the findings point out that families with autism have difficulties with the whole process. Conclusion: ASD awareness, which is counted among factors that obstruct children with autism from being involved in social life, is one of the areas that have been studied extensively. But, it is quite important that awareness training is provided to the public, healthcare professionals, and parents of children diagnosed with autism, especially by mental health professionals.Rehabilitation Center can be taken as an example in substance addiction treatment and rehabilitation applications in our country.        

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