During the growth of a child, social and communication skills are important indicators to measure whether his or her development is smooth. Many parents will be puzzled when their children are 4-11 years old:
- Is it more difficult for children to integrate into the collective than their peers?
- Are you often immersed in fixed interests?
- Is there a significant gap between speaking style and interaction behavior and peers?
If you also have these concerns, the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST Scale) is a reliable early screening tool. This article will introduce you in detail the background, test content, score interpretation and online testing methods of CAST to help you quickly understand your child’s social communication development level.
What is the CAST Children’s Autism Spectrum Test?
As public attention to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continues to increase, parents and educators are increasingly looking to identify possible signs of autism in early childhood. Children’s autism spectrum testing is a screening tool developed for this purpose. The CAST Autism Scale is mainly used for early autism screening in children aged 4-11 years, helping to identify children at potential risks, so as to intervene as soon as possible.
CAST, full name Childhood Autism Spectrum Test , Chinese name is Childhood Autism Spectrum Test , once called the 'Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test' and also known as the 'Social and Communication Development Questionnaire'. It is developed by the Simon Baron-Cohen team at the University of Cambridge, UK, to help parents and professionals identify possible risks of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during a critical period of development in children between 4 and 11 years of age . Currently, CAST has become the commonly used children's autism screening scale internationally .
- Applicable population: Children aged 4-11
- Questionnaire form: filled in by parents, primary caregivers or teachers
- Number of questions: 39 questions in total, of which 31 are scored
- Core objective: Early identification of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
What does the CAST test contain?
CAST is a questionnaire filled out by a parent or primary caregiver . As someone who knows your child best, you can answer questions based on your child's behavior in various daily situations, which allows the test results to more realistically reflect the child's actual situation. The CAST issue mainly involves four dimensions : social interaction, language communication, imagination game, repetition and restrictive behavior .
For example:
- Do the child take the initiative to communicate with his parents or peers?
- Can you participate in the game of peers?
- Do you often say or do something 'inappropriate'?
- Are there any stereotypical, repetitive actions or fixed interests?
These questions help parents discover whether there are differences in children's social communication, emotional expression, and interest patterns related to the autism spectrum.
How to interpret CAST scores?
The CAST score range is 0-31 points . The higher the score, the more obvious the difference in social communication in children.
- 0-11 points: Typical development - The child's development trajectory meets the general level.
- 12-14 points: Moderate differences - There may be certain social communication problems, and it is recommended to observe and follow up.
- 15 points and above: Significant differences - It is recommended to further seek professional diagnosis and intervention.
Important: CAST is a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool !
Even if a child scores a higher score in CAST, it does not mean that he must be diagnosed with autism. The final diagnosis of autism requires a comprehensive evaluation by a professional clinician (such as a psychologist) and complies with the standardized diagnostic criteria in the American Academy of Psychiatric Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
When interpreting scores, professionals will also consider :
- The speed and age of children.
- Whether there are other conditions that may overlap with autism characteristics such as social phobia, trauma, sensory sensitivity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or specific learning disabilities. These conditions should be evaluated separately.
- Boys usually score higher than girls, which is consistent with the phenomenon that autism is higher in boys. Sometimes, “camouflage behavior” in autistic girls can lead to lower CAST scores.
Why do CAST online testing?
- Early detection : The earlier the identification of potential ASD characteristics, the more conducive it is to intervention.
- Easy to operate : parents can complete it and the results can be obtained in a few minutes.
- Scientific and reliable : an internationally validated screening tool, widely used in research and education environments.
CAST Children's Autism Spectrum Test Online Edition, with a total of 44 questions (split by question 39). Through the test, you can have a clearer understanding of your children's social and communication development.
CAST Children's Autism Spectrum Test Portal
The CAST test is simple and can be completed by parents. (All tests provided by PsycTest Quiz can be tested for free without registration)
Note: The applicable age of CAST children's autism spectrum test is 4-11 years old, and the results depend on parents' subjective answers, which may be biased. At the same time, CAST test cannot distinguish from other developmental disorders such as ADHD and social fear. It is only a screening tool and cannot replace medical diagnosis.
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