Skip to main content
Log in

Accuracy of Reported Community Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Published:
Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To compare community diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) reported by parents to consensus diagnoses made using standardized tools plus clinical observation. 87 participants (85% male, average age 7.4 years), with reported community diagnosis of ASD were evaluated using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) (ADOS-2), Differential Ability Scale (DAS-II), and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-II). Detailed developmental and medical history was obtained from all participants. Diagnosis was based on clinical consensus of at least two expert clinicians, using test results, clinical observations, and parent report. 23% of participants with a reported community diagnosis of ASD were classified as non-spectrum based on our consensus diagnosis. ASD and non-spectrum participants did not differ on age at evaluation and age of first community diagnosis. Non-verbal IQ scores and Adaptive Behavior Composite scores were significantly higher in the non-spectrum group compared to the ASD group (104.5 ± 21.7 vs. 80.1 ± 21.6, p < .01; 71.1 ± 15 versus 79.5 ± 17.6, p < .05, respectively). Participants enrolled with community diagnosis of PDD-NOS were significantly more likely to be classified as non-spectrum on the study consensus diagnosis than Participants with Autism or Asperger (36% versus 9.5%, Odds Ratio = 5.4, p < .05). This study shows suboptimal agreement between community diagnoses of ASD and consensus diagnosis using standardized instruments. These findings are based on limited data, and should be further studied, taking into consideration the influence of DSM 5 diagnostic criteria on ASD prevalence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2: Distribution of study consensus diagnosis among participants.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ADOS:

Autism diagnostic observation schedule

ASD:

Autism spectrum disorder

CSS:

Calibrated severity score

PDD-NOS:

Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified

References

  • Akshoomoff, N. (2006). Use of the Mullen scales of early learning for the assessment of young children with autism spectrum disorders. Child Neuropsychology, 12(4-5), 269–277.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Qabandi, M., Gorter, J. W., & Rosenbaum, P. (2011). Early autism detection: are we ready for routine screening? Pediatrics, 128, e211–e217.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Altman, D. (1991). Practical statistics for medical research (1st ed.). London: Chapman & Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, D. K., Lord, C., Risi, S., et al. (2007). Patterns of growth in verbal abilities among children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75(4), 594–604.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baird, G., Charman, T., Baron-Cohen, S., Cox, A., Swettenham, J., Wheelwright, S., & Drew, A. (2000). A screening instrument for autism at 18 months of age: a 6-year follow-up study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39(6), 694–702.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baird, G., Douglas, H. R., & Murphy, M. S. (2011). Recognising and diagnosing autism in children and young people: summary of NICE guidance. BMJ, 343, d6360.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barton, M. L., Dumont-Mathieu, T., & Fein, D. (2012). Screening young children for autism spectrum disorders in primary practice. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 1165–1174.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, D. V., Whitehouse, A. J., Watt, H. J., & Line, E. A. (2008). Autism and diagnostic substitution: evidence from a study of adults with a history of developmental language disorder. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 50(5), 341.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blumberg, S. J., Bramlett, M. D., Kogan, M. D., Schieve, L. A., Jones, J. R., & Lu, M. C. (2013). Changes in prevalence of parent-reported autism spectrum disorder in school-aged U.S. Children: 2007 to 2011–2012. National Health Statistics Reports Number 65.

  • Boyle, C. A., Boulet, S., Schieve, L. A., Cohen, R. A., Blumberg, S. J., Yeargin-Allsopp, M., et al. (2011). Trends in the prevalence of developmental disabilities in US children, 1997-2008. Pediatrics, 127, 1034–1042.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders: autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, United States, 2006. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 58(SS10), 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2012). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders: autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 14 sites, United States, 2008. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 61(3), 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years - autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 63, 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiansz J., Gray, K. M., Taffe J., Tonge, B. (2016). Autism spectrum disorder in the DSM-5: diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in early childhood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. ISSN: 0162–3257 Vol: 46 (6). Page: 2054-2063.

  • Coo, H., Ouellette-Kuntz, H., Lam, M., et al. (2012). Correlates of age at diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in six Canadian regions. Chronic Diseases and Injuries in Canada, 32(2), 90–100.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daniels, A. M., & Mandell, D. S. (2014). Explaining differences in age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis: a critical review. Autism, 18(5), 583–597.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Earls, M. F., & Hay, S. S. (2006). Setting the stage for success: implementation of developmental and behavioral screening and surveillance in primary care practice—the North Carolina assuring better child health and development (ABCD project). Pediatrics, 118(1), e183–e188.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, C. D. (1990). Differential ability scales. San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falkmer, T., Anderson, K., Falkmer, M., & Horlin, C. (2013). Diagnostic procedures in autism spectrum disorders: a systematic literature review. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 22(6), 329–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filipek, P. A., Accardo, P. J., Baranek, G. T., Cook Jr., E. H., Dawson, G., Gordon, B., et al. (1999). The screening and diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 29(6), 439–484.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Filipek, P. A., Accardo, P. J., Ashwal, S., Baranek, G. T., Cook Jr., E. H., Dawson, G., et al. (2000). Practice parameter: screening and diagnosis of autism: report of the quality standards subcommittee of the American Academy of neurology and the child neurology society. Neurology, 55(4), 468–479.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • First, M. B. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th edition, and clinical utility. J NervMent Dis, 201(9), 727.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fombonne, E. (2005). Epidemiology of autistic disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 66(Suppl. 10), 3–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fountain, C., King, M., & Bearman, P. S. (2011). Age of diagnosis for autism: individual and community factors across 10 birth cohorts. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 65(6), 503–510.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gilliam, J. (2008). Test review: GARS-2: Gilliam autism rating scale—second edition. Austin, TX: PRO-ED. JPsychoeduc Assess, 26, 395–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gotham, K., Risi, S., Pickles, A., & Lord, C. (2007). The autism diagnostic observation schedule: revised algorithms for improved diagnostic validity. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 613–627.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gotham, K., Pickels, A., & Lord, C. (2009). Standardizing ADOS scores for a measure of severity in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(5), 693–705.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gwet, K. L. (2014). Handbook of inter-rater reliability (4th ed.). Gaithersburg: Advanced Analytics Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbert, M. R. (2010). Contributions of the environment and environmentally vulnerable physiology to autism spectrum disorders. CurrOpin Neurol, 23, 103–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herbert, M. R., Russo, J. P., Yang, S., Roohi, J., Blaxill, M., Kahler, S. G., et al. (2006). Autism and environmental genomics. Neurotoxicology, 27, 671–684.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huerta, M., & Lord, C. (2012). Diagnostic evaluation of autism spectrum disorders. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 59(1), 103–111.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Huerta, M., Bishop, S. L., Duncan, A., Hus, V., & Lord, C. (2012). Application of DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder to three samples of children with DSM-IV diagnoses of pervasive developmental disorders. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 169(10), 1056–1064.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, R. M., Tager-Flusberg, H., & Lord, C. (2002). Cognitive profiles and social-communicative functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 43(6), 807–821.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kanne, S. M., Gerber, A. J., Quirmbach, L. M., Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., & Saulnier, C. A. (2011). The role of adaptive behavior in autism spectrum disorders: implications for functional outcome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(8), 1007–1018.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kenworthy, L., Case, L., Harms, M. B., Martin, A., & Wallace, G. L. (2010). Adaptive behavior ratings correlate with symptomatology and IQ among individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(4), 416–423.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S. H. (2012). Developing and refining instruments and methods for diagnostic and language assessment of young children with autism Spectrum disorders (ASD). Ph.D dissertation. The University of Michigan. Available: https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/91478/sohkim_1.pdf.

  • Kim, S. H., & Lord, C. (2012). Combining information from multiple sources for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders for toddlers and young preschoolers from 12 to 47 months of age. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53(2), 143–151.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kogan, M. D., Blumberg, S. J., Schieve, L. A., Boyle, C. A., Perrin, J. M., Ghandour, R. M., et al. (2009). Prevalence of parent-reported diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder among children in the US, 2007. Pediatrics, 124, 1395–1403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kraijer, D. (2000). Review of adaptive behavior studies in mentally retarded persons with autism/pervasive developmental disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(1), 39–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kulage, K. M., Smaldone, A. M., & Cohn, E. G. (2014). How will DSM-5 affect autism diagnosis? A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(8), 1918–1932.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Le Couteur, A., Haden, G., Hammal, D., & McConachie, H. (2008). Diagnosing autism spectrum disorders in pre-school children using two standardised assessment instruments: the ADI-R and the ADOS. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 362–372.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., & Richler, J. (2006). Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. In T. Charman & W. Stone (Eds.), Social and communication development in autism spectrum disorders: Early identification, diagnosis, and intervention (pp. 35–60). NewYork: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. J. (1994). Autism diagnostic interview-revised: a revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24(5), 659–685.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Risi, S., Lambrecht, L., Cook Jr., E. H., Leventhal, B. L., DiLavore, P. C., et al. (2000). The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: a standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30, 205–223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Risi, S., DiLavore, P. S., Shulman, C., Thurm, A., & Pickles, A. (2006). Autism from 2 to 9 years of age. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63, 694–701.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., et al. (2012a). Autism diagnostic observation schedule, second edition: ADOS-2. Torrance: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Petkova, E., Hus, V., et al. (2012b). A multisite study of the clinical diagnosis of different autism spectrum disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 69(3), 306–313.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lundström, S., Reichenberg, A., Anckarsäter, H., Lichtenstein, P., & Gillberg, C. (2015). Autism phenotype versus registered diagnosis in Swedish children: prevalence trends over 10 years in general population samples. BMJ, 350, h1961.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Maenner, M. J., Rice, C. E., Arneson, C. L., Cunniff, C., Schieve, L. A., Carpenter, L. A., et al. (2014). Potential impact of DSM- criteria on autism spectrum disorder prevalence estimates. JAMA Psychiatry, 71(3), 292–300.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mandell, D. S., & Palmer, R. (2005). Differences among states in the identification of autistic spectrum disorders. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 159(3), 266–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mandell, D. S., Morales, K. H., Xie, M., Polsky, D., Stahmer, A., & Marcus, S. C. (2010). County-level variation in the prevalence of medicaid-enrolled children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 1241–1246.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • McPartland, J. C., Reichow, B., & Volkmar, F. R. (2012). Sensitivity and specificity of proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(4), 368–383.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Newschaffer, C. J., Falb, M. D., & Gurney, J. G. (2005). National autism prevalence trends from United States special education data. Pediatrics, 115(3), 277–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozonoff, S., Goodlin-Jones, B. L., & Solomon, M. (2005). Evidence-based assessment of autism spectrum disorders in children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34, 523–540.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, R., Loomis, R., & Chawarska, K. (2014). Adaptive behavior in toddlers under two with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(2), 264–270.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Randall, M., Albein-Urios, N., Brignell, A., Gulenc, A., Hennel, S., Coates, C., et al. (2016). Diagnosing autism: Australian paediatric research network surveys. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 52(1), 11–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ray-Subramanian, C. E., Huai, N., & Ellis Weismer, S. (2011). Brief report: adaptive behavior and cognitive skills for toddlers on the autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(5), 679–684.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, D. L., Fein, D., Barton, M. L., & Green, J. A. (2001). The modified checklist for autism in toddlers: an initial study investigating the early detection of autism and pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 131–144.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (2005). Incidence of autism spectrum disorders: changes over time and their meaning. ActaPaediatr, 94, 2–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schopler, E., Reichler, 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.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shattuck, P. T. (2006). The contribution of diagnostic substitution to the growing administrative prevalence of autism in US special education. Pediatrics, 117(4), 1028–1037.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shumway, S., Farmer, C., Thurm, A., Joseph, L., Black, D., & Golden, C. (2012). The ADOS calibrated severity score: Relationship to phenotypic variables and stability over time. Autism Research, 5(4), 267–276.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sikora, D. M., Hall, T. A., Hartley, S. L., Gerrard-Morris, A. E., & Cagle, S. (2008). Does parent report of behavior differ across ADOS-G classifications: analysis of scores from the CBCL and GARS. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 440–448.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • South, M., Williams, B. J., McMahon, W. M., Owley, T., Filipek, P. A., Shernoff, E., et al. (2002). Utility of the Gilliam autism rating scale in research and clinical populations. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 32, 593–599.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S. S., Balla, D. A., Cicchetti DV (1984) Vineland adaptive behavior scales. American Guidance Service; Circle Pines.

  • Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, V. D., Balla, A. D. (2005) Vineland adaptive behavior scales. 2nd edition American guidance service; circle pines.

  • Stahmer, A. C., & Mandell, D. S. (2007). State infant/toddler program policies for eligibility and services provision for young children with autism. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 34, 29–37.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sumi, S., Miyachi, T., Ohya, K., Ohashi, K., & Saitoh, S. (2014). Application of the final DSM-5 criteria for young children with autism Spectrum disorder. Application of the final DSM-5 criteria for young children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Open Access, 4, 135. https://doi.org/10.4172/2165-7890.1000135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, A. R., Warren, Z. E., Stone, W. L., Vehorn, A. C., Dohrmann, E., & Humberd. (2014). The diagnosis of autism in community pediatric settings: does advanced training facilitate practice change? Autism, 18(5), 555–561.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taheri, A., & Perry, A. (2012). Exploring the proposed DSM-5 criteria in a clinical sample. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(9), 1810–1817.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, B. (2006). Vaccines and the changing epidemiology of autism. Child: Care, Health and Development, 32, 511–519.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thurm, A., Lord, C., Lee, L., et al. (2007). Predictors of language acquisition in preschool children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(9), 1721–1734.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Warren, Z., Vehorn, A., Dohrmann, E., Nicholson, A., Sutcliffe, J. S., & Veenstra-Vanderweele, J. (2012). Accuracy of phenotyping children with autism based on parent report: what specifically do we gain phenotyping "rapidly"? Autism Research, 5, 31–38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2008). Wechsler adult intelligence scale –fourth edition. San Antonio: Harcourt Assessment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woolfenden, S., Sarkozy, V., Ridley, G., Coory, M., & Williams, K. (2012). A systematic review of two outcomes in autism spectrum disorder - epilepsy and mortality. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 54, 306–312.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was funded by NIH NCATS CTSA 2UL TR000457–06.

The funder had no involvement in the study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Moran Hausman-Kedem.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

Moran Hausman-Kedeml, Barry E. Kosofsky, Gail Ross, Kaleb Yohay, Emily Forrest, Margaret H. Dennin, Reena Patel, Kristen Bennett, James P. Holahan and Mary J. Ward declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Experiment Participants

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study or their parents. An assent was obtained from all minors participating in the study.

Grant Support

No honorarium, grant, or other form of payment was given to anyone to produce the manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hausman-Kedem, M., Kosofsky, B.E., Ross, G. et al. Accuracy of Reported Community Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 40, 367–375 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-018-9642-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-018-9642-1

Keywords

Navigation