Summary: | Abstract Screening instruments to detect symptoms of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the school setting are still needed. The study aimed to develop the Autistic Spectrum Disorder Behavior Scale (ASD-BS) according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). The scale consists of 31 items, divided into communication; social interactions; restrictive, repetitive and ritual behaviors; and other indicators. The content validity included five expert judges and a pilot sample with 29 children between six and 12 years old. The results were shown to be adequate, all items reached agreement rates above 80% and Kappa of 0.84. Exploratory statistical analyzes showed Cronbach’s alpha equal to 0.78, sensitivity values ranging from 86 to 93% and specificity from 34 to 100%. ASD-BS is of quick implementation, uses the teacher as an informant and contributes to psychological assessment.
|