Best Practice Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sheridan and Lord (2020) review best practices for assessing children and teens for Autism Spectrum Disorder. We summarize their recommendations here:
Process for Best Practice Assessment
Collect information from the parent(s) about a child’s early development and specific symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Observe the child directly using standardized instruments that assess for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Areas to be Covered in a Best Practice Assessment
- Family and medical history
- Developmental skills
- Cognitive skills (Intelligence quotient or IQ)
- Language and communication
- Adaptive functioning
At Teleios Behavioral Health, We Collect This Information by
Collecting information about family and medical history during your child’s initial intake
Administering an IQ test – typically the Weschler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) for children 2 years, 6 months through age 6, or the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-5) for children ages 6 years and older
Using the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R). The AD-R is a gold standard semi-structured parent interview that collects information about developmental history as well as about specific symptoms of Autism spectrum disorder from early development to the time of the assessment
Using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, second edition (ADOS-2). The ADOS 2 is a gold standard, semi-structured interactive assessment of symptoms of Autism spectrum disorder including communication, social interaction, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests
Using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition (Vineland -3). The Vineland 3 measures adaptive behavior skills in the areas of communication skills, social skills, and other areas of adaptive behavior
Reference:
Sheridan, E. & Lord, C. (2020). Autism spectrum disorders. In E. A. Youngstrom, M. J. Prinstein, E. J. Mash, & R. A. Barkley (Eds) Assessment of disorders in childhood and adolescence (5th Edition). New York, NY: Guilford Press.