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Comparison of Scores on the Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and Gilliam Asperger’s Disorder Scale for Children with Low Functioning Autism, High Functioning Autism, Asperger’s Disorder, ADHD, and Typical Development

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Abstract

Reliability and validity for three autism instruments were compared for 190 children with low functioning autism (LFA), 190 children with high functioning autism or Asperger’s disorder (HFA), 76 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 64 typical children. The instruments were the Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder (designed for children with LFA and HFA), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) for children with LFA, and Gilliam Asperger’s Disorder Scale (GADS). For children with LFA or ADHD, classification accuracy was 100% for the Checklist and 98% for the CARS clinician scores. For children with HFA or ADHD, classification accuracy was 99% for the Checklist and 93% for the GADS clinician scores. Clinician–parent diagnostic agreement was high (90% Checklist, 90% CARS, and 84% GADS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry H073, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Susan Dickerson Mayes, Susan L. Calhoun, Michael J. Murray, Fauzia Mahr, Shiyoko Cothren, Heather Purichia & Christopher Petersen

  2. Office of Developmental Programs, Department of Public Welfare, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA, USA

    Jill D. Morrow

  3. The Vista Foundation, Hershey, PA, USA

    Kirsten K. L. Yurich & James N. Bouder

  4. Central Pennsylvania Regional Autism Institute, Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Susan Dickerson Mayes, Susan L. Calhoun, Michael J. Murray, Kirsten K. L. Yurich, Fauzia Mahr, Shiyoko Cothren, Heather Purichia, James N. Bouder & Christopher Petersen

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  1. Susan Dickerson Mayes
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  2. Susan L. Calhoun
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  10. Christopher Petersen
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Correspondence to Susan Dickerson Mayes.

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Mayes, S.D., Calhoun, S.L., Murray, M.J. et al. Comparison of Scores on the Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and Gilliam Asperger’s Disorder Scale for Children with Low Functioning Autism, High Functioning Autism, Asperger’s Disorder, ADHD, and Typical Development. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 1682–1693 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0812-6

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