The utility of the "Behavioral Assessment System for Children" for assessing Asperger's syndrome

Abstract

Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is a disorder that has become widely recognized in recent years. Early assessment and intervention is critical to providing necessary supports to help children with AS have more successful outcomes. Assessments designed specifically to evaluate for AS or other autism spectrum disorders often require in-depth training and expertise, and many of the behavioral checklists that have been developed for autism spectrum disorders have questionable psychometric properties. The Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC) is one of the most widely used assessment instruments in clinical, educational, and research settings and assesses a wide range of behavior in children. Unfortunately, little research has been conducted to determine whether or not the BASC may be useful as a screening tool for Asperger's Syndrome. This study was designed to assess whether the clinical and adaptive scales on the BASC could adequately differentiate among children diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-Combined Type, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-Combined Type with comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and typically developing children. A discriminant analysis revealed that the scales on the BASC were able to accurately classify the vast majority of cases into the correct diagnostic groups based on the discriminant function coefficient weights obtained. Results showed that children with AS had a distinct profile on the BASC with high scores on Withdrawal and Atypicality, and low scores on Social Skills when compared to children with ADHD-Combined Type, ADHD-Combined Type with comorbid ODD, and typically developing children. Results are discussed in terms of pragmatic implications for assessment of children with AS.