International Meeting for Autism Research (May 7 - 9, 2009): CARS and ADI-R Profiles of Children with Asperger Syndrome in Comparison with Those with Autism

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Northwest Hall (Chicago Hilton)

3:30 PM

J. H. Schroeder , Clinical-Developmental Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

J. M. Bebko , Clinical-Developmental Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

J. A. Weiss , Dual Diagnosis Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health & York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

K. McFee , Clinical-Developmental Psychology, York University, Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

C. A. McMorris , Clinical-Developmental, York University, Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

L. Hancock , Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

K. Wells , Clinical-Developmental Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

Background: Researchers and clinicians use a variety of diagnostic measures both in identifying the presence of and further determining the severity of autism and Asperger Syndrome (AS). This variability has led several researchers to question the validity of the Asperger Syndrome diagnosis. Thus, further research would be beneficial for determining the fundamental characteristics of these conditions.

Objectives: To compare the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) profiles in a sample of children with AS relative to a sample of children with Autism.

Methods: Eighteen children with AS will be compared with twenty children with Autism. Participants range in age from 6 to 17 years. The CARS and the ADI-R were administered to determine Autism symptom severity. Intellectual abilities (assessed using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scales of Intelligence), receptive (measured using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Task) and expressive language (measured using the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Task) levels were assessed.

Results: Preliminary results indicate that mean Autism severity scores on both the CARS and the ADI-R are lower in the AS group than in the Autism group. The frequency of endorsement for particular CARS and ADI-R items between groups will be discussed, and the predictive power of each item and of language and intelligence scores will be reported.

Conclusions: This study will help to determine the validity of using the CARS and the ADI-R with individuals with AS. In addition, this research will further our understanding of the characteristics of Asperger Syndrome, and also the validity of the Asperger Syndrome diagnosis.

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