Temeljni cilj rada bio je ispitati koliko su roditelji djece s teškoćama u razvoju spremni potražiti socijalno-stručnu pomoć. Prvi specifični cilj bio je tvrditi na koji su način uvjerenja (nepovjerenje, spremnost i nelagoda u traženju socijalno-stručne pomoći) roditelja djece s teškoćama u razvoju o budućem traženju socijalno-stručne pomoći povezana s procijenjenom prethodnom učestalosti dobivene socijalno-stručne podrške i zadovoljstvom prethodno dobivene socijalno-stručne podrške. Drugi specifični cilj je analizirati navedene varijable u odnosu na neka sociodemografska obilježja roditelja i djece (mjesto stanovanja i dob djeteta). Ispitivana su uvjerenja o traženju stručne pomoći te procjena učestalosti i zadovoljstva dobivenom stručnom podrškom kod 102 roditelja djece s teškoćama u razvoju dobi do 15 godina korisnika osam udruga i/ili institucija u kojima su uključeni u odgojno-obrazovni i socijalizacijsko-rehabilitacijski tretman. U trenutku ispitivanja živjeli su u seoskim i urbanim sredinama na području gradova i okolice gradova Rijeke i Vinkovaca. Ukupno su sudjelovale 73 (71.6 %) majke (Mdob = 40.14) i 29 (28.4 %) očeva (Mdob = 41.52). Procijenjena učestalost dobivene socijalno-stručne pomoći i procijenjeno zadovoljstvo dobivenom socijalno-stručnom pomoći su negativno povezani s većim nepovjerenjem prema traženju socijalno-stručne pomoći. Što su djeca starija, to se kod roditelja uočava manje spremnosti za traženje socijalno-stručne pomoći i više nepovjerenja u traženju stručne pomoći. Usporedbom roditelja u Vinkovcima i Rijeci, kao i usporedbom roditelja koji žive u gradu i roditelja koji žive na selu, utvrđeno je da roditelji koji žive u Vinkovcima, kao i roditelji koji žive na selu, iskazuju značajno veću nelagodu u traženju socijalno-stručne pomoći. Autorice se nadaju da rezultati mogu pomoći u budućim istraživanjima teme, kao i u unapređivanju sustavnog pružanja stručne pomoći i podrške obiteljima djece s teškoćama u razvoju. Smatraju da je rad važan u unaprjeđivanju kvalitete socijalno-stručne podrške i pomoći obiteljima djece s teškoćama u razvoju jer ukazuje na teorijski interpretirano nisku roditeljsku procjenu učestalosti i kvalitete dobivene stručne pomoći. The main goal of this study was to examine to what extent are parents of children with developmental difficulties ready to seek social and professional support. The first specific aim of research was to determine the ways in which the beliefs (distrustfulness, readiness and discomfort in seeking of social and professional help) of parents of children with developmental difficulties in future seeking social and professional help are related to the parents’ estimated frequency of previously obtained social and professional support and parents’ estimated frequency of satisfaction with previously social and professional support, along with some socio-demographic characteristics (a place of the residence and child’s age). The beliefs of parents of children with developmental difficulties in seeking professional support, parents’ estimated frequency of obtained professional support, and parents’ estimated frequency of satisfaction with professional support are provided by 102 parents of children with developmental difficulties living in rural and urban areas of Rijeka and Vinkovci towns. A total of 73 (71.6 %) mothers (Mage = 40.14) and 29 (28.4 %) fathers (Mage = 41.52) of children up to 15 years of age participated in the study. The estimated frequency of social and professional support obtained and the estimated frequency of satisfaction with previously social and professional support are negatively associated with greater distrustfulness in seeking social and professional support. As children were older, parents were less ready to seek professional support and more distrustful while seeking professional assistance. By comparing the parents in Vinkovci and Rijeka, as well as by comparing the parents living in the city, and the parents who live in the village, it was found that parents living in Vinkovci as well as parents living in the village show a major discomfort in seeking social and professional support. The authors hope that the results can help in future researches and in improving the systematic provision of professional help and support to families of children with developmental difficulties. They believe that this work is important in improving the quality of social and professional support and helping families of children with developmental difficulties because it points to a theoretically interpreted low parental assessment of the frequency and quality of the received professional support.