Development of a multi-dimensional scale for PDD and ADHD.
The MSPA gives you a one-page radar chart that turns a long report into a picture parents understand.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Funabiki et al. (2011) built a new rating scale called the MSPA. It has 14 domains that cover autism and ADHD traits.
Parents fill out the form. The scores turn into a radar chart that shows the child’s pattern at a glance.
What they found
Two raters agreed on the scores. The radar pictures looked different for each of the six diagnosis groups.
This means the tool can spot fine-grain differences beyond the basic label.
How this fits with other research
Rana et al. (2024) took the same idea but aimed it at family life. Their AISDD asks how much parents change routines for the child. MSPA maps symptoms; AISDD maps impact.
Jones et al. (2010) did an earlier child scale called C-SHARP. It only tracked aggression. MSPA widened the lens to 14 areas, keeping the radar-chart style.
Matlock et al. (2011) ran the adult version of A-SHARP the same year. Both papers prove radar charts help families see needs fast, whether for kids or adults.
Why it matters
You can hand the MSPA to parents while they wait. The picture starts the conversation about which domains need goals first. Use it to pick targets, show progress, and explain why two kids with the same diagnosis may need very different plans.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
A novel assessment scale, the multi-dimensional scale for pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (MSPA), is reported. Existing assessment scales are intended to establish each diagnosis. However, the diagnosis by itself does not always capture individual characteristics or indicate the level of support required, since inter-individual differences are substantial and co-morbidity is common. The MSPA consists of 14 domains and each domain is rated by a nine-point quantitative scale. The clinical and behavioral features are projected onto a radar-chart, which facilitates understanding of the disorders both by the patients themselves and by those in their surroundings. We assessed 179 patients and analyzed features by six diagnostic subgroups, which showed relationships between features and diagnoses. The inter-rater reliability was satisfactory.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.01.052