Adapting the Autistic Behavioural Indicators Instrument (ABII) as a parent questionnaire (ABII-PQ)

ABSTRACT

Background Both parent-report and clinician-administered autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening instruments are important to accurately inform ASD risk ascertainment. The aim of this study was to adapt a clinician-administered ASD screening instrument, the Autistic Behavioural Indicators Instrument (ABII), as a parent questionnaire equivalent (ABII-PQ).

Method The modification of ABII items into parent questions is described. The ABII-PQ was trialled in a sample of parents of children, aged between 12 months and 6 years, with an ASD (n = 65, M child age = 4.03 years) or typical development (n = 37, M child age = 2.09 years).

Results Internal consistency was high, α = .92. Receiver operator curves analysis identified the optimal ABII-PQ cut-off score, which yielded high sensitivity (.97) and specificity (.95). Classification accuracy was high for children across the autism spectrum (autistic disorder: n = 35, 100%; Asperger syndrome: n = 14, 93%; pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified: n = 14, 93%).

Conclusion The ABII-PQ shows promise as a parent questionnaire version of the ABII.

KEYWORDS:

• autism spectrum disorder
• ASD
• autism screening
• parent questionnaire
• ABII, ABII-PQ

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.