Autistic symptoms appear to change during adolescence. This study replicates an earlier one (McCallon, 1985) which attempted to validate the use of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) with adolescents. The standard observation method of administration was used. Additionally, information obtained in structured parent interviews was used to score a CARS. Subjects were nine autistic and nine nonautistic retarded adolescents from 13 to 21 years of age. Results suggested that the CARS, administered either way, validity discriminates between retarded adolescents who are diagnosed as autistic and those with other handicaps. Methodological limitations of the present study are discussed.

Using the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) database of the Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine of The University of Hong Kong, a retrospective cohort study was carried out exploring the relationship between prematurity and symptom severity by using Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). The premature group was found to have no significant difference in total CARS score as compared to the full term group, and no significant correlation was found between CARS score and gestational age [GA] (for children diagnosed or with suspected ASDs). Significantly higher numbers of the premature group (GA 37 weeks, N = 130) had multiple births, family history of ASDs or related disorders, pre/perinatal complications, as well as a significantly lower mean birth weight as compared to the full term group (GA > 37 weeks, N = 683). Mean total CARS score of very premature cases (M = 32.20, SD = 6.29) was found to be 2 points lower than mean total CARS score of those that were full term (GA > 37 weeks [M = 34.08, SD = 6.53]). However, the result was not statistically significant by unpaired t-test analysis. Therefore, results in this cohort show no relationship between prematurity and CARS score of children with ASDs, however further studies should be carried out in order to better validate existing findings. / published_or_final_version / Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Thesis (MA)--University of Western Sydney, 2004. / Title from title screen (viewed on 1 April 2008). "This thesis is presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master Of Psychology (Clinical), University Of Western Sydney. 31st March 2004". Includes bibliographical references.

It is now known that autism is a lifelong handicapping condition. While some of the characteristic behaviors of autistic children remain unchanged in adolescence and adulthood, there is evidence that other behaviors change as a function of development. Assessment instruments for identifying autism are generally intended for use with. young children and may not accurately assess autism in adolescents. Two studies compared autistic adolescents with matched autistic children and nonautistic adolescents on two autism rating scales. The validity of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale for use with adolescents was supported while the validity of the Prescreening Checklist was questioned. The findings were discussed in relation to the age-related changes which occur in autistic adolescents.

This project sought to determine the utility in using either, or both, of two instruments to diagnose autism, the CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale) and the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), Modules 1 or 2. Children (n=320) who were seen in the autism diagnostic clinics at the Developmental Disabilities Center of the Kansas University Medical Center, who were under the age of 72 months (6 years), and who had been evaluated with both instruments were chosen as participants in this study. Those children who received the diagnosis of autism after being evaluated numbered 220; 100 received another or no diagnosis. Three levels of data analysis were conducted in this study. The first level included developing item-item correlation matrices for each instrument that was then compared to those in the original, normed study for internal consistency. Results indicated good internal consistency. At the second level, a factor analysis was conducted on each instrument that resulted in weighted factor scores and a correlation matrix of factors for each instrument. Factor analyses resulted in three factors identified for the CARS, two factors for ADOS, Module 1, and three factors for ADOS, Module 2. These factors are consistent with the criteria currently used for the diagnosis of autism. The third level of analysis utilized chi square and stepwise discriminant analysis to predict group membership (autism or no autism) with each instrument. From these results, it was concluded that both instruments are similar in their ability to diagnose autism, although they may be measuring somewhat different factors. Closer examination revealed that communication difficulty is the factor that most closely distinguished autism for this group of children. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Wichita State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology. / "July 2005."

The purpose of master work “Parental attitude to the structured teaching method in autistic 3 to 7-year-old children” was to explore the role of the family psychological state to the teaching process (parental attitude to child, acceptance of the autistic child by the family, role of the family crisis), factors which could influence child’s nurturing processes and basic problems of the applying of structured teaching for the early age children in the family. Study object: structured teaching method in autistic 3 to 7-year-old children. Study purpose: to explore parental attitude to the autistic child and to the structured teaching method. Study objectives: to group autistic children according to the level of the severity of autism symptoms; to reveal demographical characteristics of the families of autistic children, to evaluate parental attitude to autistic child and factors which influence this attitude; to evaluate parental attitude to the structured teaching method. Participants of the study were autistic children and their families from all over Lithuania, who have undergone treatment at the Unit of Early rehabilitation of the Centre for Child Development in Vilnius from September 2004 to March 2005. Forty children have been evaluated using The Children Autism Rating Scale and their parents have been interviewed about applying of the structured teaching method at home and basic problems of the applying. Qualitative data of the study revealed that the most... [to full text]

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-60). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url%5Fver=Z39.88-2004&res%5Fdat=xri:pqdiss &rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR11879

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Title: The educational life course of the child with autism spectrum disorder which is fulfilling compulsory school attendance in the regular class of primary school Summary: The thesis deals with issues of individual integration of children with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability into the regular classes of primary school. The thesis reflects the fact, that the numbers of pupils with the diagnosis are constantly increasing in primary schools. The objective of this study is to determine the educational life course of the child with autism spectrum disorder which is fulfilling compulsory school attendance in the regular class of primary school and to identify risk factors and differences in the education of these children. To realize this objective method of qualitative research has been chosen - specifically, the collective case study, based on an analysis of documentation. Based on comparison of individual educational life courses of probands and the ideal educational life course that was outlined in the relevant chapter of this study, risk factors and differences in the educational life course of the children with autism spectrum disorder were identified. Among differences in the educational life course of the schoolchildren diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder the following facts...