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Original poster

CARS test result :(

52 replies

phlebas · 28/08/2009 09:32

Can someone give me a manly pat on the back.

Just been told ds scores at the high end of mild/moderate ... feel so sad

What it mean?

OP posts:
MaleyDale · 28/08/2009 09:53

We haven't had a conclusive score but were told that ds will be mild-moderate too on GARS. We were hoping for mild-extremely mild.

Trouble is, we don't know what the scale is. If there are 100 categories below, and only 1 above, - well them that is blimmin great isn't it?

I hate all this living in the dark without full information thing.

I suspect though, that there is more to it than simply a rating. It is probably in sections and ds scores mild in most, but there are a couple of areas of weakness that bring him down, rather than all of him being at that lower level iyswim.

Don't know, - clutching at straws. Try not to let it reduce your expectations. You're having a tough time anyway at the moment and it must be hard feeling that the pay-off 'might' not be as great, - but a CARS rating cannot possibly tell you that so just hold on for this blip.

Good luck!

4nomore · 28/08/2009 10:01

If I remember rightly CARS is scored as 20 - 30 = traits but not exactly ASD (more like PDD NOS) and 30 - 40 is mild to moderate while 40-60 is severe. I researched this a few months ago when they tested my don but then the guy who administered the test was moved to a different post and I've never had the results (and probably never will). He as good as said that my son would get mild to moderate anyway. Try not to worry, even an accurate assessment is just a snapshot of your child on the day it was administered, individuals move about the spectrum (and usually "up" the CARS test) as they get older.

Phoenix4725 · 28/08/2009 10:28

ds has never had or been ofered any dx test, though looked ta chat thing and he would and does flag up on a lot of them he now carries a social and communication disorder and SLI

Does anyone know where you can see any of th tests online

devientenigma · 28/08/2009 11:39

My son scored middle on the cars test but done an ados and the outcome wasn't pdd-nos or asd. Still just left, with autistic traits. However son is also down syndrome, severely delayed.

Original poster
phlebas · 28/08/2009 11:41

Phoenix, I haven't seen the full CARS test online, it isn't supposed to be diagnostic but is a score of autistic behaviours (15 areas scored 1-4 with the higher the score the more severely abnormal the behaviour) ~ BIBIC will do it if you ask.

His score is 35.5, I was expecting 34-36 so it isn't really a shock (he'll have scored really high on anything related to language). Still bloody sucks though ... BIBIC recommend re-testing in a year & the score should have gone down.

You know I still have HCPs saying there's nothing really wrong with him if only

OP posts:
Phoenix4725 · 28/08/2009 11:52

Hmm were back to Bibic for reassment in Noveber will ask then yes ds would but he stotaly non verbal

Original poster
phlebas · 28/08/2009 14:21

36 is considered severely autistic

OP posts:
lou031205 · 28/08/2009 20:00

www.wierdkids.com/wierd/autism/cars2.htm Here's a link to the CARS.

I'm told DD1 isn't ASD, but I reckon she scores about 37

lou031205 · 28/08/2009 20:01

Phlebas,

Original poster
phlebas · 28/08/2009 22:12

lou that's fab ... well done for finding it, I've been wearing google out for the last couple of days.

Well I know ds' big problems are

  • language
  • compliance (will not imitate when requested etc - hell he doesn't do anything when requested I'd say this is an even greater issue that the vast language delay
OP posts:
MaleyDale · 29/08/2009 00:04

I just did ds. 35.5 too. Maybe everyone gets 35.5!

Phoenix4725 · 29/08/2009 04:22

i just looked at ds and he scores high but then its harder as he has global delay and non verbal

sodit · 29/08/2009 14:16

hmm very interesting ds1 scores 25 which is making me wibble even more on the is he? isnt he? debate. oh well.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 29/08/2009 16:10

CARS mild/moderate is quite a narrow range.

Ds1 scored mild/moderate when he was 4 - now he's well into severe. 50 odd or something I think. I'm not sure it's that stable or useful in defining the part of the spectrum a child fits under the age of 5 because of the way it's scored. It's quite a crude measure.

More useful for a yes/no needs to be investigated in young children imo.

PipinJo · 29/08/2009 17:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lou031205 · 30/08/2009 08:58

Scroll up in this thread, PipinJo, there is a link

grumpyoldeeyore · 30/08/2009 20:09

My DS scores 37 but I would put him more moderately severe. This seems to be biased towards sensory issues which my DS doesn't have much of - ie he scores highly in the triad but doesn't have many of the secondary sensory impairments. Seems to me you could have very mild autistic features but a lot of sensory issues and score the same as a severely autistic child with few sensory issues.

PipinJo · 30/08/2009 20:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 30/08/2009 20:53

The problem with the CARS though pipin is that you are comparing to norm. So for example ds1 has improved in a lot of areas since he was 4 or whenever he first took the test (and scored mild/moderate) but the gap between him and his peers has widened and now he's well in the severe range. (Also hasn't developed any speech which so scores very highly on those areas).

I'm not sure it's a great tool to use to look at progress. Something like the ABLLS is better for that.

I use the CARS as a crude cut off to find children who are 'severely' autistic for my research, but there's a huge range within that.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 30/08/2009 20:58

I've just done him again- 52.5 But if you look at individual areas he has improved dramatically. For example when he scored mild/moderate he couldn't imitate. Now he can- a huge step forward, but not reflected in the CARS.

daisy5678 · 30/08/2009 21:07

A weird test. J would score 47 (severe autism) but it seemed to disproportionately highlight his defecits, iyswim, and the areas where he's mild e.g. vocab, intellectual functioning, sociability were quite under-represented.

Or maybe I'm just in denial.

PipinJo · 30/08/2009 22:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 30/08/2009 22:15

I know very verbal kids who are more severe (in terms of what they can access/support needed) than ds1.

But having said that the CARS is crude. I wouldn't torture yourself trying to get up the the scale- use ABLLS where you will record progress.

If anyone who scores as severe wants to take part in my research feel free to contact me (I would grin there but my bracket key on this computer is broken!)

daisy5678 · 30/08/2009 23:21

He scored severe on ADOS too...but it is about how he manages and I'm still fully in the 'he-is-managing-brilliantly honeymoon phase of summer holidays! There have been shitty patches but I'm good at ignoring those when I've had a good day or two!

Saintlydame, we'll take part if J fits your profile?

saintlydamemrsturnip · 30/08/2009 23:48

Only profile really is that the child scores as severe on CARS. They need to be aged 11 and under, or 12 and over but with the capacity to agree that they want to take part. No signature needed from the child- the parent signs to say they have spoken to the child about the research and the child agrees to take part. In both cases parental consent needed.

I can email you more information if you're interested.

We've never done an ADOS!