Diagnostic Instruments for Autism in Deaf children’s Study (DIADS)
1 in 1000 3 year old children in the UK have permanent deafness, rising to 2 in 1000 for 9-16 year olds (Fortnum et al, 2001). Research has shown that about a third of deaf children have visual difficulties or a physical, motor or intellectual disability (Holden-Pitt & Albertorio, 1998). Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are more commonly diagnosed in deaf children as compared to hearing children (Jure et al, 1991), particularly in relation to some of the causes of deafness such as rubella, cytomegalovirus and CHARGE Syndrome (Chess, 1977; Wachtel et al, 2007).
There are currently no suitable assessments for Autism in deaf children; which could be misleading and result in misdiagnosis. 90% – 95% of deaf children have hearing parents, many of these children may not learn sign language until later life, and they may have a language delay which mirrors a trait of autism.
DIAD’s modified three different autism assessments:
- SRS-2 – Social Responsiveness Scale – 2; parent self-reported questionnaires.
- ADi-R – Autism Diagnostics Interview – revised; semi structured interview with parents.
- ADOS-2 Autism Diagnostics Observation Schedule Edition 2; Play based session with a child and a clinician.
These assessments were modified using the knowledge and experience of 39 international experts who work with deaf children with autism.
The SRS-2, ADOS-2 and ADIR have been translated into British Sign Language using the blind translation methodology.
We want to find out if these three assessments can detect deaf children with ASD and deaf children without ASD. We are currently recruiting 260 families to take part in the research:
- 65 – deaf children without ASD
- 65 – deaf children with ASD
- 65 – hearing children with ASD
- 65 additional deaf children without ASD to do the screening assessments.
If you would like further information regarding DIADS, visit the following sections of our website:
Or, feel free to get in touch with a member of the research team:
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 01904 294827