标准化诊断仪器的开发促进了临床和研究环境中自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)个体的系统表征。然而,过分强调特定工具的分数大大偏离了这些工具的最初目的。而不是提供一个明确的答案,甚至是诊断的确认,标准化的诊断仪器旨在帮助临床医生收集有关社交信息的过程,玩,以及与诊断和治疗计划相关的重复和感官行为。重要的是,许多自闭症诊断仪器没有对某些患者人群进行验证,包括那些有严重视力的人,听力,电机,和/或认知障碍,它们不能通过翻译来管理。此外,某些情况下,例如需要穿戴个人防护设备(PPE),或行为因素(例如,选择性mutism)可能会干扰标准化的管理或评分程序,渲染分数无效。因此,了解特定临床或研究人群中特定工具的用途和局限性,以及这些群体和仪器验证样本之间的相似性或差异性,是最重要的。因此,付款人和其他系统不得在不适当的情况下强制使用特定工具。确保公平获得适当的评估和治疗服务,诊断医生必须接受自闭症评估的最佳实践方法培训,包括如果,如何,以及何时适当使用标准化的诊断仪器。
Development of standardized diagnostic instruments has facilitated the systematic characterization of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in clinical and research settings. However, overemphasis on scores from specific instruments has significantly detracted from the original purpose of these tools. Rather than provide a definitive \"answer,\" or even a confirmation of diagnosis, standardized diagnostic instruments were designed to aid clinicians in the process of gathering information about social communication, play, and repetitive and sensory behaviors relevant to diagnosis and treatment planning. Importantly, many autism diagnostic instruments are not validated for certain patient populations, including those with severe vision, hearing, motor, and/or cognitive impairments, and they cannot be administered via a translator. In addition, certain circumstances, such as the need to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), or behavioral factors (e.g., selective mutism) may interfere with standardized administration or scoring procedures, rendering scores invalid. Thus, understanding the uses and limitations of specific tools within specific clinical or research populations, as well as similarities or differences between these populations and the instrument validation samples, is paramount. Accordingly, payers and other systems must not mandate the use of specific tools in cases when their use would be inappropriate. To ensure equitable access to appropriate assessment and treatment services, it is imperative that diagnosticians be trained in best practice methods for the assessment of autism, including if, how, and when to appropriately employ standardized diagnostic instruments.