How can I be sure that my child has Asperger’s Syndrome, how can I choose the correct Asperger’s test to complete? Yes, there are infinity tests that can be completed online and it may answer some of your questions but, how can you be sure?
It is important to focus on the strengths of your child and work around these strengths to assist them with the skills they are having more difficulty with.
We as Board Certified Autism technicians (BCAT) who are trained in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) will not make a diagnosis with regards to your child’s abilities. As BCAT’s who are trained in ABA and giving individualised treatment, are there to make sure that we do everything possible in order for your child to receive the best treatment. Some of the early signs and symptoms that can be recognized in kids on the autism spectrum is their lack of eye contact. They struggle with making eye contact as this forms part of non-verbal communication and social interaction and these are all skills that they find more challenging. Children on the autism spectrum also struggle with responding to stimuli in their environment that require their five senses. They also struggle with identifying emotions in others and this has an effect on their social relationships as having shared interests with others around them are more challenging for them and this leads to them having difficulty with making friends.
A lot of kids with Asperger’s syndrome might be misdiagnosed as ADD or ADHD. This is why testing plays such a crucial part in the diagnosis of your child. Medical practitioners like; clinical psychologists, paediatric and neurologists, child psychiatrists or psychologists or child paediatricians can evaluate your child and diagnose them.
There are a variety of Asperger’s tests, including the following:
- Aspergers Syndrome diagnostic scale (ASDS). This test evaluates symptoms that is directly related to Asperger’s syndrome. ASDS provide each child with specific goals in areas where they lack skills and this test also provide individualised intervention options for change.
- Childhood Autism Rating scale (CARS). CARS is a comprehensive test that is used to diagnose children on the autism spectrum and also determine the severity of their condition. This test evaluate over 14 domains which include their executive, social, cognitive, adaptive, language, motor and more skills. This test will give a rating out of four for each item on the scale, these ratings are based on direct observations. Research have shown that CARS may over-diagnose young children. This test is recommended for children 2 years and older.
- Autism Spectrum Rating scale (ASRS). The ASRS is used to diagnose children between the age of 2 and 18 years on the spectrum. The test compares the child that is being tested with a national sample of children with an autism diagnosis. It is designed to measure the child’s symptoms, behaviours and characteristics associated with the autism spectrum.
- Social Responsiveness Scale. The social responsiveness scale discriminate between a diagnosis on the autism spectrum and psychiatric conditions. This test is more often used for research purposes than in a clinical setting. The test is an easy questionnaire that can be completed by the individual’s parents and consists out of 18 questions.
- Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GADS). The Gilliam Autism rating scale distinguish between different behavioural disorders and is a quick test to complete and can be used for individuals between the age of 3 and 22. This is one of the most used instruments in the assessment and diagnosis for autism.
Other areas that can likely be tested include hearing and language test as well as personality tests. Some doctors might also request EEG’s (Electroencephalography), brain scans and MRI’s (magnetic resonance imaging).
Do not worry if you want to help your child now and fear that Asperger’s tests will take time. We treat the symptoms, not the diagnosis. There is much we can do to help your child make friends and integrate in their social environment without waiting for a diagnosis.