The CAST (Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test): preliminary development of a UK screen for mainstream primary-school-age children.
CAST is a quick parent checklist that spots Asperger traits in regular classrooms and has since been fine-tuned for accuracy and translated worldwide.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team built a 37-question parent form called CAST. They asked parents of primary-school children in the UK to fill it out.
Kids already diagnosed with Asperger syndrome were compared with typically developing classmates. The goal was to see if CAST could spot the autism group.
What they found
CAST scores were clearly higher for the Asperger group. The tool looked good as a quick classroom screen.
How this fits with other research
Williams et al. (2005) ran a larger follow-up and pinned down accuracy numbers: 100% sensitivity, 97% specificity at cut-point 15. This direct replication backs the 2002 promise.
Allison et al. (2007) checked test-retest reliability two months later. Scores stayed fairly stable, so CAST works for research, not for single-child diagnosis.
Fitzpatrick et al. (2017) and Sun et al. (2014) stretched CAST beyond the UK. Spanish and Mandarin versions keep the same two-factor shape, showing the tool travels well.
Kahng et al. (1999) came first with the 27-item ASSQ. CAST adds more items and parent-only format, a clear upgrade for busy teachers.
Why it matters
You now have a free, 5-minute parent form that flags possible Asperger traits in mainstream classes. Use it as a first sieve, not a verdict. If parents score 15 or higher, refer on for full assessment. Keep the Spanish or Mandarin sheets handy for multilingual families.
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Join Free →Print the 37-item CAST, give it to parents while they wait, and use cut-point 15 to decide on next steps.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
The article describes a pilot and follow-up study of the preliminary development of a new tool to screen for Asperger syndrome (AS) and related social and communication conditions (the Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test, CAST) in children aged 4-11 years, in a non-clinical setting. In the pilot study, parents of 13 children with AS and of 37 typically developing children completed the CAST. There were significant differences between the AS and typical sample means. The pilot was used to establish preliminary cut-off scores for the CAST. In the main study, parents of 1150 primary-school-age children were sent the CAST, and 174 took part in the full data analysis. Results suggest that compared with other tools currently available, the CAST may be useful for identifying children at risk for AS and related conditions, in a mainstream non-clinical sample. Further research is ongoing.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2002 · doi:10.1177/1362361302006001003