The Gilliam Asperger Disorder Scale (GADS) is a norm referenced test designed to evaluate children with unique behavioral problems who may have Asperger's Disorder. Based on the most current and relevant definitions and diagnostic criteria of Asperger's Disorder, the GADS is useful for contributing valuable information toward the identification of children who have this disorder. Easily completed by a parent and professional who knows the child, the GADS provides documentation about the essential behavior characteristics of Asperger's Disorder necessary for diagnosis.
The GADS can be used with confidence in the assessment process, documenting behavioral progress, targeting goals for IEPs, and for research purposes. The validity of the GADS was demonstrated by (a) confirming that the items of the test are directly related to the definitions of Asperger's Disorder; (b) the subscales are strongly related to each other and the overall diagnosis of Asperger's Disorder; and (c) the GADS scores discriminate persons with Asperger's Disorder from persons with autism and other behavioral disorders. It is the only test of it's kind with this type of discriminative ability.
The GADS has the following characteristics:
- Thirty-two clearly stated items divided into four subscales describe specific, observable, and measurable behaviors.
- Eight additional items are included for parents to contribute data about their child's development during the first 3 years of life.
- Items are based on the most current definitions of Asperger's Disorder.
- The test was normed on 371 representative subjects with Asperger's Disorder from 27 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Australia.
- The scale can be completed by parents and professionals at school and home.
- Both validity and reliability of the instrument clearly support its stated purposes.
- Behaviors are rated using objective, frequency-based ratings.
- The scale is easily completed by teachers, parents, and others who have knowledge of the subject's behavior or the greatest opportunity to observe him or her.
- Standard scores and percentiles are provided.
- A table is provided for determining the likelihood that a subject has Asperger's Disorder.
- A list of books, journals, media, Internet sites, and organizations concerned about Asperger's Disorder are provided to give teachers, parents, and others information about Asperger's Disorder.
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