Approximately 3-4 boys for every girl meet the clinical criteria for autism in studies of community diagnostic patterns and studies of autism using samples of convenience. However, girls with autism have been hypothesized to be underdiagnosed, possibly because they may present with differing symptom profiles as compared to boys. This secondary…

Play is often included in autism diagnostic assessments. These tend to focus on 'deficits' and non-autistic interpretation of observable behaviours. In contrast, a neurodiversity-affirmative assessment approach involves centring autistic perspectives and focusing on strengths, differences and needs. Accordingly, this study was designed to focus on…

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to compare scale and conditional reliability derived from item response theory analyses among the most commonly used, as well as several newly developed, observation, interview, and parent-report autism instruments. Methods: When available, data sets were combined to facilitate large sample evaluation.…

The evaluation of the overlap between the ADOS BOSCC and Standard BOSCC as well as the exploration of child characteristics that may predict change are important steps in consolidating data-driven definitions of "improvement". Participants were seen between 2 and 5 times with Standard BOSCC and ADOS BOSCC observations over the course of…

Purpose: Assessing social communication and measuring its changes among young autistic children presents significant challenges, particularly when tracking intervention effects within short timeframes. Existing measures, mostly validated in Western contexts, may not be suitable for culturally diverse populations. Addressing this gap, the Social…

Most internationally recognized instruments for the screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder have been developed in the USA, which calls into question the degree of their cultural adaptation to diverse populations. The aim of this study is to examine the characteristics of social communication in typically developing Croatian-speaking…

There is limited research regarding the Gilliam Autism Rating Scales-3rd Edition (GARS-3) despite its extensive use. A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule--2nd Edition (ADOS-2) was provided to 186 clinically referred children suspected of autism ([x-bar] age = 8.98; Autism [AUT] n = 87; Not…

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent social distancing policies forced healthcare teams to drastically alter the way they deliver services. This was particularly challenging for clinicians involved in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as assessment tools and methods required face-to-face social interactions between clinicians and…

We report a Delphi Consensus modification and first validation study of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule -- 2 with deaf children and young people (ADOS-2 Deaf adaptation). Validation included 122 deaf participants (aged 2-18 years), 63 with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This was compared to a National Institute for Health and…

Describing the relative severity and change in autism symptoms is crucial for the appropriate characterization of clinical and research populations. The calibrated severity score (CSS) of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2; Lord et al., 2012) was created to better describe autism symptom severity consistently across different…

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, characterized by altered social communication and repetitive behavior. Typically diagnosed in early childhood, screening and diagnosis at a later age can be challenging, particularly in girls who exhibit a wider range of behaviors and characteristics. This study aimed to examine the Childhood Autism…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often diagnosed by clinical practitioners with criteria from the American Psychiatric Association, but an educational diagnosis is usually based on state special education law and is geared towards addressing concerns within schools. The current study aims to examine the extent to which the clinical diagnosis of…

Autism spectrum disorder shares many symptoms with other mental health disorders, and comorbid disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders are common, making the diagnostic process challenging. We aimed to explore the diagnostic accuracy of two standard autism spectrum disorder diagnostic instruments and to identify those behavioral items that…

Purpose: Although children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often display motor deficits, the nature of these motor deficits remains unspecified. The purpose of this study was to establish a robust motor profile in children with ASD across a wider range of motor skills by using two professionally administered standardized motor assessments…

Purpose: While research indicates that both the core features of autism and associated developmental skills influence adaptive behaviour outcomes, results to date suggest greater influence of the latter than the former, and little attention has been given to how the interaction of both together might impact functional disability. Seeking to expand…