Using Carey Temperament Scales to assess behavioral style in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Lecavalier et al. (2006) asked parents to fill out the Carey Temperament Scales for their kids with autism. The team then checked if the scores were steady across time and if kids with autism scored differently from typical kids.

The Carey scales gave steady scores when parents repeated them. Children with autism earned more extreme ratings on several temperament traits than their typical peers.

Narzisi et al. (2013) also used a parent checklist, the CBCL 1½-5, and found it spotted toddlers who later got an autism label with better than 90% accuracy. Their study looked at broad behavior, while L et al. focused on fine-grained temperament traits.

Rodgers et al. (2016) built a brand-new anxiety scale for autism and showed strong reliability, just like L et al. did for temperament. Both papers argue that autism needs tools made for autism, not borrowed from general child psychology.

Parks (1983) warned that early autism scales had shaky validity even when they looked reliable. Lecavalier et al. (2006) answer that worry by showing the Carey scales can separate autism from typical groups, adding fresh validity evidence.

You now have a free, quick parent form that gives reliable temperament data. Use it during intake to capture mood, adaptability, and activity level. Pair the results with direct observation to plan smoother transitions, sensory breaks, or social stories that fit the child’s style.