the younger age of children at the time of parents' initial concerns about their children's development associated with the younger age of their children at detection of ASD. Higher levels of parental education associated with earlier detection of ASD. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to assess factors that influence parents toward detection of autism spectrum disorder. Research design: A descriptive exploratory design. Setting: The study was conducted at autism outpatient clinic at

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... l -Abbasia Mental Hospital. Subjects 100 parents having children with ASD. Tools: The data were collected using an interview questionnaire aimed at assessing factors that influence parents toward detection of autism spectrum disorder. The fieldwork: started from September 2015 to March 2016. Results: The study findings revealed fifty-four percent of the participants were early detected, while forty-six of the participants were late detected. Furthermore, fifty-six percent of the participants had a late diagnosis, while fortyfour percent of the participants had early diagnosis. Conclusion: first concerns and level of education are positively correlated. The positive predictors of early detection are parent's early initial concerns and parent's level of education, while household income and parent's self-efficacy are not correlated to detection of autism spectrum disorder. Recommendations: The study recommends that, programs for increasing parent's knowledge and awareness of the early signs of ASD (red flags) and the impact of having a child with ASD on the future outcome of their children might lead parents to seek help earlier. Programs for educating and training nurses to recognize and assist parents to navigate toward earlier detection of ASD. Further research is needed for following development of high-risk infants as early as possible and to confirm reliable age of detection.