Overview
The Autism Spectrum Rating Scales (ASRS; Goldstein & Naglieri, 2009) is a norm-referenced, nationally-standardized, multi-informant rating scale that helps to identify symptoms and behaviors associated with the full range of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It can guide diagnostic decisions, treatment planning, and monitoring response to intervention. The ASRS is available in two forms- one for preschoolers and the other for elementary and high school students. It includes eight subscales, called Treatment Scales: Peer Socialization, Adult Socialization, Social/Emotional Reciprocity, Atypical Language, Stereotypy, Behavioral Rigidity, Sensory Sensitivity, Attention/Self-Regulation (ages 6-18 only), and Attention (ages 2-5 only). Using a 5-point Likert response scale, parents and teachers indicate how often they observe specific behaviors in a child being evaluated. Up to five raters can complete the ASRS for a child, and a comparative report can be generated to compare results. There is also a 15-item Short Form that offers a convenient alternative for screening large groups or monitoring treatment. The ASRS can be scored manually or using software. The ASRS has also been updated to provide a DSM-5 scoring option (DSM-IV-TR scoring is also available). In addition, an option for obtaining ASRS scores for children and adolescents with limited or no speech is described in a technical manual available online (Goldstein & Naglieri, 2012). The ASRS is also available in Spanish.
Summary
Age: 2 years to 18 years
Time to Administer: 20 minutes (5 minutes for short form)
Method of Administration: Individually administered, norm-referenced, multi-informant rating scale to identify symptoms of ASD; completed by parent and teacher group administration of a 15-item short form is also available.
Yields T-scores (M = 50, SD = 10), percentile ranks, classifications, and interpretive guidelines
Subscales: OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: ASRS Total Score; DSM-5 Scale
SUBSCALE SCORES: Social/ Communication, Unusual Behaviors, Self-Regulation (6-18 years)
TREATMENT SCALE SCORES: Peer Socialization, Adult Socialization, Social/Emotional Reciprocity, Atypical Language, Stereotypy, Behavioral Rigidity, Sensory Sensitivity, Attention/Self-Regulation (ages 6-18), Attention (ages 2-5)
Screening/Diagnosis: D
Autism Related Research
Li et al. (2018)
Age Range: 6-18 years
Sample Size: 677
Topics Addressed:
Psychometric properties of the ASRS and SRS when used in ID and compare screening accuracy
Outcome:Li et al. (2018)
Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) had higher scores on total and all subscale scores on the ASRS than typically developing (TD) peers. Gender and age did not have a significant effect on scores, but group (e.g., ASD, ID, TD) did. Total scores in the ASD group were significantly higher than in the ID group. ASRS showed good discriminant validity, suggesting that social communication deficit is the primary characteristic of ASD that can be used to identify ASD in ID. Excellent psychometric properties, both in ASD and in ASD + ID group. However, the cut-off point should be slightly higher (e.g., 67) when used to discriminate ASD from ID.
Conclusion: the ASRS can help identify ASD within persons with ID, and increasing the cut-off point is recommended when using measure in this manner.