From the Guidelines
A RAAD-S score of 88 total suggests a high likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as scores above 65 are typically considered indicative of ASD. The breakdown of your subscores provides additional insight:
- your language subtotal of 7 is relatively low, indicating fewer language-related challenges;
- your social-relatedness subtotal of 57 is quite high, suggesting significant difficulties with social interaction and communication;
- your sensory-motor subtotal of 14 indicates moderate sensory processing or motor coordination challenges; and
- your circumscribed interests subtotal of 10 suggests some presence of restricted or repetitive interests or behaviors. The notably high social-relatedness score is particularly significant, as social communication difficulties are a core feature of autism, as described in the practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder 1. This RAAD-S result would warrant follow-up with a healthcare professional for a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, as the RAAD-S is a screening tool rather than a diagnostic instrument. A clinical assessment would include a detailed developmental history, observation of behavior, and possibly other standardized assessments to confirm or rule out an autism diagnosis and determine appropriate support needs, as recommended in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder 1. Early identification and intervention are crucial in improving outcomes for individuals with ASD, and recent studies have explored the use of biomarkers and screening methods to detect ASD earlier in development 1.
From the Research
RAAD-S Score Interpretation
The provided RAAD-S score consists of the following subtotals:
- Total: 88
- Language subtotal: 7
- Social-relatedness subtotal: 57
- Sensory-motor subtotal: 14
- Circumscribed interests subtotal: 10
Subscale Scores
The subscale scores can be interpreted as follows:
- Language subtotal (7): This score indicates the individual's language abilities, with lower scores suggesting better language skills.
- Social-relatedness subtotal (57): This score assesses the individual's social interaction skills, with higher scores indicating more severe social-relatedness difficulties.
- Sensory-motor subtotal (14): This score evaluates the individual's sensory-motor behaviors, with higher scores suggesting more pronounced sensory-motor difficulties.
- Circumscribed interests subtotal (10): This score measures the individual's restricted and repetitive behaviors, with higher scores indicating more severe circumscribed interests.
Research Context
While there are no direct studies on the RAAD-S score, research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and restricted/repetitive behaviors (RRB) can provide some context 2, 3, 4. These studies suggest that RRB is a common symptom of ASD and can be measured using various assessment tools, such as the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R) 3. However, the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for RRB in ASD is still a topic of debate, with some studies finding modest benefits for antipsychotic medications 2 and others finding little support for the routine use of medications to treat RRB in ASD 4.
Limitations
It is essential to note that the provided studies do not directly address the RAAD-S score, and therefore, the interpretation of the score is limited. Further research is needed to understand the clinical significance of the RAAD-S score and its subscales in the context of ASD diagnosis and treatment.