Adaptation, Content Validity and Reliability of the Autism Classification System of Functioning for Social Communication: From Toddlerhood to Adolescent-Aged Children with Autism

Briano Di Rezze; Stephen James Gentles; Mary Jo Cooley Hidecker; Lonnie Zwaigenbaum; Peter Rosenbaum; Eric Duku; Stelios Georgiades; Caroline Roncadin; Hanna Fang; Diana Tajik-Parvinchi; Helena Viveiros

doi:10.1007/s10803-022-05621-z

Adaptation, Content Validity and Reliability of the Autism Classification System of Functioning for Social Communication: From Toddlerhood to Adolescent-Aged Children with Autism

J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Dec;52(12):5150-5161. doi: 10.1007/s10803-022-05621-z. Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Affiliations

¹ CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research and School of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, Room 436, Hamilton, ON, L8S 1C7, Canada. direzzbm@mcmaster.ca.
² Department of Community Health, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada.
³ Department of Communication Science & Disorders, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, 900 South Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40508, USA.
⁴ Autism Research Center, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Room E209, 10230 111 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5G 0B7, Canada.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, Room 408, Hamilton, ON, L8S 1C7, Canada.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, Faulty of Health Sciences, McMaster, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada.
⁷ Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West MIP 201A, Hamilton, ON, L8P 0A1, Canada.
⁸ Ron Joyce Children's Health Centre, Hamilton Health Sciences, 325 Wellington Street North, Hamilton, ON, L8L 0A4, Canada.
⁹ CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research and School of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, Room 436, Hamilton, ON, L8S 1C7, Canada.

PMID: 35676381
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05621-z

Abstract

The Autism Classification System of Functioning: Social Communication (ACSF) describes social communication functioning levels. First developed for preschoolers with ASD, this study tests an expanded age range (2-to-18 years). The ACFS rates the child's typical and best (i.e., capacity) performance. Qualitative methods tested parent and clinician perspectives of the ACSF age expansion using content analysis. The ACSF was used twice by parents and professionals for the same child/youth. Reliabilities were assessed using weighted kappa. Content validity supported the ACSF's applicability, clarity, and usability. The ACSF adaptations did not change its original construct. Reliability were calculated from 90 parent and professional Time-1 and Time-2 ratings for children/youth (2.1-15.6 years). Results showed good-to-very good intra-rater agreement (typical) and good inter-rater agreement (capacity).

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Childhood; Classification; International classification of functioning; Social communication.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Aged
Autism Spectrum Disorder*
Autistic Disorder* / diagnosis
Child
Child, Preschool
Communication
Humans
Parents
Reproducibility of Results

Adaptation, Content Validity and Reliability of the Autism Classification System of Functioning for Social Communication: From Toddlerhood to Adolescent-Aged Children with Autism

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

MeSH terms

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