An instrument for evaluating autistic children

This paper will describe a new instrument designed to evaluate the status of autistic children and to measure changes in their behavior. The instrument consists of four core Scales, each of which delineates a category of behavior relevant to early autism. The Scales are graded in descriptive levels, ranging from the most severe autistic behavior to relatively normal behavior in a child approximately six years old. In addition, there are three supplemental Scales based on standard psychometric techniques, which are helpful in comparing autistic behavior with that of normal development. The instrument attempts to combine the complexity, richness, and sensitivity of a clinical evaluation with the objectivity of a behavioral rating scale. It has proven to be highly reliable when used by individuals with differing professional experience in a variety of clinical settings.