What is CARS? Janet
Childhood Autism Rating Scale
Gilliam Autism Rating Scale
See, we've done the same thing here...here's what's been done (and re-done from May-July...which we don't have all reports yet)
1. CARS (1 from us, 1 from teacher) Both show mild/moderate and avg autism
2. GARS (showed severe---granted done way late in life)
3. Sensory Profile (always shows severe sensory integration dysfunction)
4. Adaptive Behavior Scales-Vineland (severe social issues-both formal & informal)
5. Stanford Benet (continually dropping IQ scores...he is a spellamatician though-verbal much lower than non-verbal IQ)
6. Bracken Basic Concept (delayed on all subtests)
7. WISC (continually dropping IQ scores, all but 2 subtests are <10th %tile)
8. WIAT (same as above)
9. CELF (speech - all below average still but making GREAT progress! I'm happy here)
10. Photo Articulation (speech again, was slightly below average)
Now all but the 1st 4 I'm going by last years results and previous years results (dropped every year)...so I don't know really where he stands now...of course I fear it a little bit because once he turned 8 some tests are done for older kids, and I know he didn't progress congruently with his age progression...he generally will gain 8-10 months for every 12-15 that go by.
He's also gone through observations from speech, OT, social worker and psychologist, as well as our interview with the psych. All this was done through the school. So as far as I'm concerned, he's had all the proper testing...the question is do they tweak results to their budget advantage or not....I don't know, I may never until we get to the Neuro in September. All results so far seem conclusive to me...some worse than I even expected...but like all of you, I just want the best possible learning environment, and if he can't get it because "he's only speech delayed" which is what they keep saying...then he suffers. Then again, maybe it's like you said before, it all makes the difference based on how experienced the person who analyzes the data is.
I can't officially dx him obviously, but even according to the DSM-IV he'd be dx'd Autistic. If anybody has input...I'm open...have we missed something critical? Otherwise, I'll update after our IEP meeting.
Thanks again!!!
~Lesley
When we were given the CARS test to fill out ourselves hubby and I both filled one out each and the results were WAY different than when the Autism Center filled it out when they did the evaluation. See..initally we were given the CARS to fill out from a DEV. PED. Then when he looked over the results Mine came up Severe autism...Hubby's came up moderate. When the center did the test and filled it out he came up mild. I was told then at the center that our results came up this way because we are his parents and are not proffessionals. They also said that the doctor should have observed him for a period of time and filled it out himself because of this common problem. So when I said administering...i meant the person giving the test itself. Adam was given all kinds of tests at the Center also and not all of them stated autism. The deciding factor was the DSM-IV.
Karrie
Ah! Thank you for clarifying!
You know, I keep going back and forth with what I think too...sometimes I think, "well he's fine today" then other days (like right now) when he's covering his ears because he's scared, or lining things up (he's improved a little, now it's not always just 1 line, sometimes there are 3 perfect lines) or he's fixated and repeating or INFLEXIBLE as to "what we're doing next"...I just don't know.
I guess I'll leave it in the hands of the professionals!
Thanks again Karrie!
~Lesley
Apologizing in advance...this message got longer than I realized! :)
I just don't know, so if anyone can offer insight, I'd appreciate it!
I'm getting ready for our IEP, so I'm trying to get a handle on everything I can.
First, the only official dx I have at this moment is Sensory Integration Dysfunction (severe), Speech Delay/Impaired (constantly improving), and CVS. We have a neuro appt. in Sept and a Ped Psych appt. in Sept/Oct, don't know yet.
In May, our school tested GARS and CARS...my son was 8 1/2 at the time. GARS showed severly autistic (I don't think that's true, but think since it's normally used for toddlers maybe that's why?) CARS scored 41 (39 when I did it myself at home...why it's diff't is because I thought maybe I'm too harsh on a couple of areas....and I went back and changed it, the school one my husband and I did together) All these tests show autism. I won't go into all the other, (adaptive behavior, IQ, sensory profiles)....basically this is a real issue.
My question is this...How realiable is the CARS test? A psychologist that was at our GI appt. in June only saw Riley for about 20 minutes, but mentioned Autistic Characteristics (I told her tests are showing that) and she offered to call our SpEd Admin to discuss the actual health issue we were there for an appt. for. When she mentioned Autism to the SpEd Admin, she responded "Well that's the first I've heard about it" However, she's the one who ordered the testing, she's the one who called in the Autism Coordinator, she's already got the results of CARS/GARS (3 tests total, 1 each from us, 1 CARS from his 2nd grade teacher).
Now we're having this meeting next week, and I just believe in my heart that she's going to deny the results, or say it's not an issue. Does anyone know if this test should be taken seriously? I know, it's a stupid question...but again, she has so much influence into how these people write their reports, I want to know whether or not I can use those scores to stress a point?
Thanks for any input!
~Lesley
Maybe this is useless but does it make any sense in your case to talk to her ahead of time? It has worked for me to connect with the key players and/or trouble makers (they might think that is me but they would be WRONG) a week or so before the meeting. I just try to feel it out and see what I can or need to do to get things to go my way.
Or, if she discounts the testing and the dx we could get a bunch of us together and....hmmmmm.
pat
It's impossible to talk to the admin ahead of time, she also refused today to provide me or my advocate with the reports ahead of time. "we like to review them together at the meeting, that's our policy" which is fine as long as she doesn't mind that it's going to take us time to review them and compare them to the previous year.
The psych called me after CARS/GARS results were in (what do you all mean by "who administers the test" ... these were questionnaires we filled out - or does that refer to interpretation of the results??), and after the other testing to give me the scores and basics...in case we were able to get to the neuro earlier than this meeting....she said flat out that it's not her area of expertise, and is glad to hear he's going for further testing. That's how I found out what he scored, she also confirmed the continually dropping IQ. It is unfortunate that to everyone that works with him that it's obvious, except for the admin - the one person who's never worked with him once.
Thanks for the input everyone, I figured it was that way, all-inclusive observation and testing....which we've done. We just have to see how much she influences those that write the reports...
Pat ~ I may take you up on that offer!!!
Thanks again for sharing...I greatly appreciate your input.
~Lesley
In my case we did all the questionairres. Then they do a phone consultation, where you rate your kid on a scale. Mine was 1, hardly ever, 2, occassionally, 3, quite often, 4, constantly. Then after they have all this info we went in for the testing and observation. Then we got the results. I do know with Jeffrey they did send him to an outside child pyschologist, maybe to just verify what they came up with? But the autism clinic said he had pdd-nos, add, adhd, whereas the neuro he sees said no, he is truly autistic. Now with Gabe , same scenario but the clinic said pdd-nos and the neuro said global delays, hearing processing delay.
Tammy
How accurate the CARS test is will depend on who is administering it. If it is a person in the medical field that diagnosis autism on a daily basis then I would say that it could be accurate but if not then it may not be. When adam was diagnosed they did several tests and combined all the results along with viewing him to mark off the criteria in the DSM-IV which is the actual diagnostic tool for spectrum disorders.That is what I would say. I know with Jeffrey they did have an independent evaluator come in and observe him. But she has worked in the autism field for years. And plus the school deferred to the autism clinic that diagnosed both of my kids. If this person has experience in this field then she would have more weight. But if she is just a general psychologist then there won't be that much weight to it. And of course it all depends on who administers the tests and their interpretation of the results.
Tammy