ASD Assesments
by Emily Voss
1. Autism Canada has online questionnaires for parents or caregivers to answer that gives them an idea of whether or not their child needs a diagnostic assessment done. The questionnaires are divided by age range. They make it evident that screening tools are not able to provide an actual diagnosis.
2. Communication Assessments:
2.1. There are various communication assessments that are done to assess language deficits in children with an Autism diagnosis.There are also communication assessments that don't involve any oral language to assess how the children can communicate in other ways.
3. Autism Diagnostic Review: Is a semi-structured interview for caregivers of children or adults who are likely to be diagnosed with Autism or a Developmental Disorder. This diagnostic interview is conducted in their home or in a clinic. It is known to have high diagnostic accuracy. Parents/caregivers are asked a series of questions that help determine whether or not the child or adult meets the DSM criteria for a diagnosis.
4. Childhood Autism Rating Scale
4.1. The rating scale is used to formalize observations of the child's behaviour throughout the day. The 15 item scale helps distinguish between children who are developmentally disabled and those who fulfill an autism diagnosis. Results can determine whether a child is mild/moderate or severe on the spectrum.
