An Evaluation of the Overall Utility of Measures of Functioning Suitable for School-Aged Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Scoping Review

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 28;19(21):14114. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114114.

Abstract

A diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition (autism) provides limited information regarding an individual's level of functioning, information key in determining support and funding needs. Using the framework introduced by Arksey and O'Malley, this scoping review aimed to identify measures of functioning suitable for school-aged children on the autism spectrum and evaluate their overall utility, including content validity against the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the ICF Core Sets for Autism. The overall utility of the 13 included tools was determined using the Outcome Measures Rating Form (OMRF), with the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3) receiving the highest overall utility rating. Content validity of the tools in relation to the ICF and ICF Core Sets for Autism varied, with few assessment tools including any items linking to Environmental Factors of the ICF. The ABAS-3 had the greatest total number of codes linking to the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for Autism while the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Vineland-3) had the greatest number of unique codes linking to both the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for Autism and the Brief ICF Core Set for Autism (6-16 years). Measuring functioning of school-aged children on the spectrum can be challenging, however, it is important to accurately capture their abilities to ensure equitable and individualised access to funding and supports.

Keywords: ICF Core Sets; adaptive behaviour; assessment; autism spectrum disorder; diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Autistic Disorder*
  • Child
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive*
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Disabled Persons*
  • Humans
  • International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

Grants and funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) (project number 0.012) and Autism CRC (project numbers 3.061 and 0.012), established and supported under the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centre Program. A.J.O.W. is supported by an Investigator Grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (grant no. 1173896).