scholarly journals Psychometric properties of the Chinese Parent Version of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale: Rasch analysis

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110040
Author(s):  
Weili Yan ◽  
Richard J Siegert ◽  
Hao Zhou ◽  
Xiaobing Zou ◽  
Lijie Wu ◽  
...  

The recent adaptation of a Chinese parent version of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale showed the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale to be reliable and valid for use in China. The aim of this study was to test the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale for fit to the Rasch model. We analysed data from a previous study of the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale which comprised 1593 non-cases and 420 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. We used super items based on groups of locally dependent items and item deletion when necessary to achieve good fit to the model for each of the three subscales identified by Zhou et al. and for the full 59-item Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale. The resulting conversion tables enable the use of genuine unidimensional, interval level scores for the total score and three subscales. Reliability was high with Person Separation Index values ranging from 0.83 to 0.89 for the three subscales and 0.79 for the total scale. In addition, we were able to identify a full-scale version of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale and its three subscales that are all free of differential item functioning in relation to the five person factors recorded namely age, sex, caseness, relative and city. In future studies, the Teacher version of the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale needs examination with Rasch analysis. Lay abstract The Autism Spectrum Rating Scale is a behavioural rating scale completed by parents and teachers that is useful for identifying children with an autism spectrum disorder. The development of a modified Autism Spectrum Rating Scale suitable for use in China is important for the identification of children in China with an autism spectrum disorder. In this study, we examined the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale using a statistical technique known as Rasch analysis. Rasch analysis tests whether the questionnaire meets the standards for modern scientific measurement. We used Rasch analysis to examine data from 2013 children in China including 420 diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder who had been rated by a parent or grandparent. After removing a small number of items (questions), the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale met the stringent criteria for Rasch measurement. The availability of a reliable and precise tool for assessing behaviours characteristic of an autism spectrum disorder in Chinese children will improve the identification and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in China, thus enabling better provision of support services.

Author(s):  
Cristiano Termine ◽  
Enzo Grossi ◽  
Valentina Anelli ◽  
Ledina Derhemi ◽  
Andrea E. Cavanna

Abstract Background The association of stereotypies and tics is not rare in children with severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The differential diagnosis between stereotypies and tics in this patient population can be difficult; however, it could be clinically relevant because of treatment implications. Methods A total of 108 video recordings of repetitive behaviors in young patients with stereotypies in the context of ASD were reviewed by a movement disorders expert and a trainee, in order to assess the prevalence of possible co-morbid tics. The Modified Rush Videotape Rating Scale (MRVS) was used to rate tic frequency and severity. Results Out of 27 patients with stereotypies (24 males; mean age 14 years), 18 (67%) reported possible tics. The most frequently observed tics were eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, neck bending, staring, and throat clearing. The mean MRVS score was 5, indicating mild tic severity. The only significant difference between patients with tics and patients without tics was the total number of stereotypies, which was higher in the subgroup of patients without tics (p = 0.01). Conclusions Expert review of video-recordings of repetitive behaviors in young patients with ASD and stereotypies suggests the possibility of a relatively high rate of co-morbid tics. These findings need to be integrated with a comprehensive clinical assessment focusing on the diagnostic re-evaluation of heterogeneous motor manifestations.


Author(s):  
Lucie Jurek ◽  
Matias Balthazar ◽  
Sheffali Gulati ◽  
Neda Novakovic ◽  
María Núñez ◽  
...  

AbstractThe lack of consensual measures to monitor core change in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or response to interventions leads to difficulty to prove intervention efficacy on ASD core symptoms. There are no universally accepted outcome measures developed for measuring changes in core symptoms. However, the CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale) is one of the outcomes recommended in the EMA Guideline on the clinical development of medicinal products for the treatment of ASD. Unfortunately, there is currently no consensus on the response definition for CARS among individuals with ASD. The aim of this elicitation process was to determine an appropriate definition of a response on the CARS2 scale for interventions in patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). An elicitation process was conducted following the Sheffield Elicitation Framework (SHELF). Five experts in the field of ASD and two experts in expert knowledge elicitation participated in an 1-day elicitation workshop. Experts in ASD were previously trained in the SHELF elicitation process and received a dossier of scientific evidence concerning the topic. The response definition was set as the mean clinically relevant improvement averaged over all patients, levels of functioning, age groups ***and clinicians. Based on the scientific evidence and expert judgment, a normal probability distribution was agreed to represent the state of knowledge of this response with expected value 4.03 and standard deviation 0.664. Considering the remaining uncertainty of the estimation and the available literature, a CARS-2 improvement of 4.5 points has been defined as a threshold to conclude to a response after an intervention. A CARS-2 improvement of 4.5 points could be used to evaluate interventions' meaningfulness in indivudals. This initial finding represents an important new benchmark and may aid decision makers in evaluating the efficacy of interventions in ASD.


2021 ◽  
pp. 135910452110617
Author(s):  
Evanilza T. Adorno ◽  
Daiany C de J. Dos Santos ◽  
Beatriz M. DeJesus ◽  
Adrielle A. Passos ◽  
Lavínia Teixeira-Machado

This study investigated dance practice in psychosocial and functional aspects, and quality of life in children with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. Children with DS and ASD, between 3 and 12 years old, attended a dance program during 16 sessions/lessons, lasting 60 min, twice a week, in suitable place. Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Childhood Autism Rating Scale SF-36 quality of life survey, and Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Inquiry (KAP Inquiry) were applied before and after dance classes. Eleven participants concluded the study. Functional independence changes were observed in relation to self-care, sphincter control, locomotion, and communication domains. Children’ “quality of life” reported by parents showed changes in functional capacity, vitality, mental health, physical and social aspects, and general state of health domains. These findings suggest that regular dance practice can underlie psychosocial adjustments in children with DS and ASD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping-Chen Chan ◽  
Cheng-Te Chen ◽  
Hua Feng ◽  
Ya-Chen Lee ◽  
Kuan-Lin Chen

Objective/Background This study aimed to examine the relationships of theory of mind (ToM) to both pretend play and playfulness in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods Twenty children with ASD aged between 3 years and 7.11 years were assessed with the ToM test, and then placed in a free play condition and a pretend play condition to assess pretend play and playfulness with the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment and Test of Playfulness, respectively. In addition, the children's symptom severities of ASD and verbal abilities were also assessed with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Receptive and Expressive Vocabulary Test—second edition, respectively. Results The results of the regression analysis confirmed that ToM significantly predicted pretend play variables, namely, Number of Object Substitutions (R2 = .158, p = .002) and Number of Imitated Actions (R2 = .175, p = .001), but not playfulness. The CARS score was a significant predictor of the Percentage of Elaborate Pretend Play Actions of pretend play (R2 = .075, p = .034), as well as the internal control (R2 = .125, p = .006) and framing (R2 = .071, p = .039) variables of playfulness. Conclusion The findings support the idea that children with ASD who have better ToM might be able to develop better pretend play, but not better playfulness, which might be more strongly related to their autistic severity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S221-S221
Author(s):  
F. Rad ◽  
L. Kobylinska ◽  
I. Mihailescu ◽  
A. Buica ◽  
I. Dobrescu

From assortative mating theory to genetic background, several ethipathogenic hypotheses in ASD deal with the traits of parents.Backgroundseveral ethipathogenic hypotheses in ASD deal with the traits of parents. The objectives of our study were to measure the ADHD and autism spectrum disorder quotients in parents of children diagnosed with ASD comorbid with ADHD and to correlate the measurements for the tests in parents with those in their children. The specific aim was to identify whether any significant correlations exist.MethodFifty-two pairs of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders and ADHD were included in this study, based on informed consent and the ethical committee's approval. The child's diagnosis was established by a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry, based on the child's clinical symptoms and on specific diagnostic scales, such as the ADOS and ADHD-rating scale. The parents completed an Autism Spectrum Quotient Scale (ASQS) and an adult ADHD scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and Excel. The correlations were verified using Spearman's non-parametric correlation test.ResultsThere was a strong correlation between the parents’ ADHD scores (r = 0.5, P < 0.001), and a reverse medium correlation between the mother's ADHD score and the child's ADOS score (r = –0.32, P = 0.02). The father's ASQS and ADHD scores correlated between each other (r = 0.31, P = 0.02). There were no correlations between the parents’ and the child's ADHD score, nor between the child's ADOS score and the parents’ ASQS scores.ConclusionOur results suggest that ADHD symptoms in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders comorbid with ADHD might be predictors for the child's prognosis.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824402110407
Author(s):  
Eun-Young Park ◽  
Hyojeong Seo ◽  
Kwang-Sun Cho Blair ◽  
Min-Chae Kang

This study examined the validity of the Korean version of the Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) with 180 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in South Korea. Rasch analysis was applied to examine item fit, item difficulty, suitability of the response scale, and person and item separation indices of the K-CBCL. The results indicated that, with the exception of six out of the 119 items, the K-CBCL had a good item fit. Suitability of the rating scale was supported. Both Attention Problems and Aggressive Behavior factors differentiated two strata of behavior problems of children with ASD, whereas six other factors only captured one stratum of behavior problems. The item separation index indicated that the items were distributed well with high reliability. We demonstrated that statistical item analysis with the Rasch model could provide valuable information related to psychometric properties.


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