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Brief Report: Excluding the ADI-R Behavioral Domain Improves Diagnostic Agreement in Toddlers

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Abstract

Past research shows poor agreement between the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and other diagnostic measures in toddlers. Our goal was to examine whether exclusion of the ADI-R behavioral domain results in improved diagnostic agreement. Toddlers aged 16–37 months (M = 26 months) received an evaluation because they failed the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (n = 142). Evaluations included the ADI-R, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and clinical judgment. Results found poor to fair agreement between the ADI-R and other measures; agreement improved when the ADI-R behavioral domain was excluded. These findings suggest that stereotyped interests and behaviors are not as relevant to the ADI-R as other diagnostic criteria when evaluating toddlers for autism spectrum disorders.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in-part by the University of Connecticut’s Research Foundation Faculty Grant, National Alliance of Autism Research, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (5 R01 HD039961), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (R40 MC 00270). We are grateful to the children and families who participated in the study and our clinical and community collaborators for their continued support. We also thank the research teams at Georgia State University and the University of Connecticut for their dedication to the screening and early diagnosis study.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA

    Lisa D. Wiggins & Diana L. Robins

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  1. Lisa D. Wiggins
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  2. Diana L. Robins
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Correspondence to Lisa D. Wiggins.

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Wiggins, L.D., Robins, D.L. Brief Report: Excluding the ADI-R Behavioral Domain Improves Diagnostic Agreement in Toddlers . J Autism Dev Disord 38, 972–976 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0456-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0456-3

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