Abstract
Differentiating autism from other handicapping conditions, especially mental retardation, has been a constant problem for public schools. This study investigated the effectiveness of three instruments to discriminate autistic from trainable mentally retarded children. The Autism Screening Instrument for Educational Planning, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and the Diagnostic Checklist for Behavior Disturbed Children, Form E-2 were administered to 20 autistic and 20 TMR students. Discriminant analysis was used to determine the best linear combination of scores that would separate the two groups of children. All three instruments were found to separate the two samples of children. However, the CARS and the ASIEP provided for a greater separation of groups.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bender, L. (1947). Clinical study of one hundred schizophrenic children.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 17, 40–56.
Coleman, M. (1980, November 7).The autistic syndromes. Paper presented at the International Symposium on Autism, Woodbury, New York.
Doll, E. (1965).Vineland social maturity scale. Circle Pines, Minnesota: American Guidance Service.
Kanner, L. (1943). Autistic disturbances of affective contact.Nervous Child, 2, 217–250.
Klecka, W. (1975). Discriminant analysis. In N. H. Nie, C. H. Hull, J. G. Jenkins, K. Steinbrenner, & D. H. Bent (Eds.),Statistical packages for the social sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Krug, D. A., Arick, J. R., & Almond, P. J. (1980).Autism screening instrument for educational planning. Portland, Oregon: ASIEP Educational Co.
Lachenbruch, P. A. (1975).Discriminant analysis. New York: Hafner Press.
McCarthy, D. (1972).McCarthy scales of children's abilities. New York: Psychological Corporation.
Ornitz, E., & Ritvo, E. (1976). The syndrome of autism: A critical review.American Journal of Psychiatry, 133(6), 609–631.
Rimland, B. (1971). The differentiation of childhood psychoses: An analysis of checklists for 2,218 psychotic children.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1, 161–174.
Ritvo, E., & Freeman, B. J. (1978). Current research on the syndrome of autism.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 8, 162–167.
Rutter, M. (1978). Diagnosis and definition of childhood autism.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 8, 139–161.
Rutter, M. (1980, November 7).Issues in autism: Current trends and future projects. Paper presented at the International Symposium on Autism, Woodbury, New York.
Schopler, E., Richter, R. J., DeVellis, R. F., & Daly, K. (1980). Toward objective classification of childhood autism: Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS).Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 10, 91–103.
Terman, L. M., & Merrill, M. A. (1960).Stanford-Binet intelligence scale. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.
Wechsler, D. (1974).Wechsler intelligence scale for children-revised. New York: Psychological Corporation.
Wing, L. (1979). Differentiation of retardation and autism for specific communication disorders.Child: Care, Health, and Development, 5, 57–68.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Statistical support was provided by the Statistical Research Laboratory, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, 75275, Dovalee Dorsett, Ph.D., director.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Teal, M.B., Wiebe, M.J. A validity analysis of selected instruments used to assess autism. J Autism Dev Disord 16, 485–494 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531713
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531713