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DIAGNOSIS: Toni Braxton poses with her autistic son, Diezel

MINORITY CHILDREN are said to be diagnosed with autism later than their white counterparts, a new research has been revealed.

The study, by the University of Pennsylvania, shows that white kids are diagnosed as much as a year and a half earlier than black and other minority children.

Dr. Rebecca Landa, autism director at Baltimore's Kennedy Krieger Institute says cultural differences in how parents view developmental milestones, and how they interact with doctors, may play a role.

"The biggest thing I want parents to know is we can do something about it to help your child," she said.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, autism can be detected as early as 14 months of age, however children aren't diagnosed until they're about 4 1/2 years old, government recent numbers show.

Singer Toni Braxton, whose eight-year-old son, Diezel, was diagnosed with autism five years ago, has been open about the disability and admitted it has been a long struggle.

"As a mom I knew something was different about him when he was probably nine months old. By the time he became a year and a half I thought 'He's not developing like his older brother'," the star told American talk show, Fox And Friends.

She continued: "It was inconclusive, and finally at three they said, 'Yes, he's autistic'."

The Unbreak My Heart singer says Diezel is doing fine and credits early diagnosis and therapies with helping him lead a more normal life.

"We were very lucky because after we found out, I can tell you early diagnosis makes a lifetime of difference" the 44-year-old mother of two said.

She added: "We have him in occupational therapy, speech therapy, he’s being mainstreamed — he's in public school, he does have his special ed therapies, but we are very, very lucky. With a long road though, a lot of hard work, a long way to go."