Childhood Autism Rating Scale - Second Edition

Since its original publication, the CARS has become one of the most widely used and empirically validated autism assessments. It has proven especially effective in discriminating between children with autism and those with severe cognitive deficits, and in distinguishing mild-to-moderate from severe autism. CARS2 has been revised to cover the entire autism spectrum, including Asperger’s Syndrome.

Benefits

• More responsive to individuals on the “high functioning” end of the autism spectrum—those with average or higher IQ scores, better verbal skills, and more subtle social and behavioural deficits.
• While retaining the simplicity, brevity and clarity of the original test, the CARS2 adds forms and features that help you integrate diagnostic information, determine functional capabilities, provide feedback to parents and design targeted intervention.
• It is based on decades of use with thousands of referred individuals.
• It assesses virtually all ages and functional levels.
• It provides concise, objective and quantifiable ratings based on direct behavioural observation.
• Scores show a consistent, strong, positive and specific relationship with autism diagnosis.
• Ratings are reliable across time, settings, sources of information and raters.

Features

The CARS2 includes three forms:

• Standard Version (CARS2-ST) Rating Booklet Equivalent to the original CARS: for use with individuals younger than 6 years of age and those with communication difficulties or below-average estimated IQs
• High Functioning Individuals (CARS2-HF) Rating Booklet: an alternative for assessing verbally fluent individuals, 6 years of age and older, with IQ scores above 80
• Questionnaire for Parents or Caregivers (CARS2-QPC): an unscored scale that gathers information for use in making CARS2-ST and CARS2-HF ratings

Features explained

The CARS2-ST and CARS2-HF each include 15 items addressing the following functional areas:

• Relating to People
• Imitation (ST); Social-Emotional Understanding (HF)
• Emotional Response (ST); Emotional Expression and Regulation of Emotions (HF)
• Body Use
• Object Use (ST); Object Use in Play (HF)
• Adaptation to Change (ST); Adaptation to Change/Restricted Interests (HF)
• Visual Response
• Listening Response
• Taste, Smell and Touch Response and Use
• Fear or Nervousness (ST); Fear or Anxiety (HF)
• Verbal Communication
• Nonverbal Communication
• Activity Level (ST); Thinking/Cognitive Integration Skills (HF)
• Level and Consistency of Intellectual Response
• General Impressions