EXPERIENCES OF MOTHERS WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN DURING THE DIAGNOSIS PROCESS OF THEIR CHILD

Date

2023-12

Author

Kurşun Çakır, Sezgi

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Today, the prevalence of autism continues to rise worldwide, with an increasing trend over the years. Early recognition of autism, early intervention, and adherence to educational programs are of paramount importance. Particularly, the observations of mothers, who are often the first to notice the signs and serve as primary caregivers, play a significant role in the diagnostic process. This thesis aims to explore the experiences of mothers with children on the autism spectrum during the diagnosis of their children. The study seeks to expand our understanding of these mothers' experiences throughout the diagnostic journey. The primary focus of the diagnosis process is to comprehend the mother-child interaction and gain insights into the mother's perspective. To capture the unique experiences of these mothers, a qualitative research strategy was conducted. Purposive sampling consisted of five mothers with autistic children. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each of the participants and the interviews were analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The analysis revealed four themes: ‘when there is no communication: challenges in mother-child communication in the pre-diagnostic period’, ‘delays in the process of diagnosis’, ‘what happened during the diagnosis process’ and ‘acceptance after diagnosis’. The study's findings were discussed within the context of relevant literature, and implications for clinical interventions were drawn accordingly.

Subject Keywords

Autism, Mother, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Diagnosis, Experience

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/106397

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis