Interest Age: 3 to 18
2014The Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation Scale (ASDES) is based on the most commonly recognised definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) (2013) in the DSM-5™. It has school and home versions to document behaviour observations in the school and residential environments. It is nationally (USA) standardised for ages 3 through 18 years of age.
The Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation Scale measures the characteristics typically associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder as described by the medical profession and observed by educators, psychologists, and psychiatrists. The Home Version provides doctors, therapists, and educators documentation and frequency of the characteristics observed in the home setting. The School Version allows educators to document observations of behaviour in the school environment. Combining both versions provides a broader assessment of the child’s social, emotional, academic, and communication strengths and weaknesses across different environments. Both scales contribute valuable information to the identification process of children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The following functions are served by the instrument:
- measurement of behaviour by primary observers in the school or residential environment
- comparison of an individual student to a national standard for screening purposes
- identification of the child’s characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder as defined by the American Psychiatric Association
- pinpointing areas of need for behavioural intervention/improvement
- identification of goals, objectives, and interventions for the student’s IEP, and program implementation with the use of the Autistic Disorder Intervention Manual.
Characteristics and Components of the ASDES
- The ASDES sub scales of Social-Emotional Reciprocity, Non-verbal, Relationships, Stereotyped/Repetitive, Routines/Rituals, Interests, and Sensory are based on the diagnostic criteria for ASD from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5™) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
- The ASDES School Version (122 items) was standardised on a total of 3,413 students.
- The ASDES Home Version (122 items) was standardised on a total of 1,992 children and youth.
- The standardisation population included children and youth from 27 states and represented all geographic regions of the United States.
- Factor analysis confirmed the seven ASDES sub scales.
- Sub scale standard scores, percentiles, and quotients are provided by gender and age.
- ASDES uses frequency-based quantifiers to document a behaviour's occurrence.
- The Autistic Spectrum Disorder Intervention Manual (507 pages, © 2022) includes IEP goals, objectives, and interventions for all 122 items on the School Version of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation Scale.
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