Validation of Autism Diagnostic Aid Version 1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Validation study of Autism Diagnostic Aid (ADA) in a clinical sample of adults with intellectual disability.

  • IRAS ID

    127864

  • Contact name

    Mahesh M Odiyoor

  • Contact email

    mahesh.odiyoor@cwp.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 11 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Intellectual disability is defined as significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills, with a reduced ability to cope independently, which started before adulthood with a lasting effect on development. The reduced ability is considered to be the equivalent of an IQ score below 70. Autism is a lifelong condition that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. The three main areas are difficulties in social communication, social interaction and social imagination.

    Aims of the Study
    To validate the Autism Diagnostic Aid (ADA) as an aid to support a speedier assessment of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in the population of adults with an intellectual disability (ID). It is intended that the tool will ultimately be employed by those professionals with background experience of working with ID clients plus experience and a working knowledge of ASD.

    Method
    We plan to identify 60 patients with an established intellectual disability (ID) who have been referred to Adult Intellectual Disability Services.The subjects identified will have exhibited lifelong developmental difficulties indicating that they may lie on the autistic spectrum, however, no formal diagnosis of autism should have been made.

    Stage1 the Autism Diagnostic Aid (ADA) will be completed on an individual basis by non-medical staff such as nurses, speech & language therapists. A doctor will review the information (without any other knowledge of the patient).

    Stage 2 : an independent assessment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will be made by a consultant in the Psychiatry of intellectual disability who would be blind to the content of the ADA for that individual. The diagnosis may also be made by using structured tools such as ADI, ADOS2 or DISCO.

    Stage 3: the results of the two assessments will be compared. Statistical analysis of the results will be undertaken.

  • REC name

    North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/NW/0287

  • Date of REC Opinion

    10 Jul 2018

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion