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Health Info Libr J. 2007 Jun;24(2):78-94.

The information-seeking behaviour of doctors: a review of the evidence.

Davies K1, Harrison J.

There are tons of literature about adult patients receiving diagnosis of a terminal illness, but only a handful about parents' reactions towards their children receiving the diagnosis of ASD. Actually, individual family's reaction depends largely on different cultures, family climate, parents' education and socioeconomic backgrounds, understanding of their children's condition, as well as their perceived information and instrumental social support available.

For example, in Singapore context, generally well-educated (both parents have at least diploma or degree education), middle-income families are mostly concerned about the child's schooling and available intervention programmes following a diagnosis. They do not really over-react to, deny, or are angry about the diagnosis as long as the condition and available supportive services is well communicated to them.

If you would like to know more about their specific emotions towards having a child diagnosed with ASD, may be you can read these two articles:

http://www.healio.com/psychiatry/journals/psycann/2012-8-42-8/%7Bfcd6590c-b137-4ce0-9743-ed77e3496d89%7D/family-complications-in-autism-diagnosis