Validity of the social communication questionnaire in adults with intellectual disabilities and suspected autism spectrum disorder.

Sappok et al. (2015) tested if the Social Communication Questionnaire works for adults with intellectual disability. They wanted to know if it can spot autism in this group. The team used the SCQ-current version with adults who have ID.

They checked how often the test is right when autism is there and how often it is wrong when it is not.

The SCQ-current caught almost every adult who truly had autism. It missed very few. Yet it also flagged many adults who did not have autism. A lower cut-off score helped cut the false alarms.

In short, the tool is great for ruling autism in, but you will need a second step to be sure.

Mammarella et al. (2022) did the same kind of check with Chinese kids using a different form, the AQ. Both studies show these quick forms work across ages and cultures.

Smith et al. (2010) found that one in five adults with severe ID also have autism. That high rate means you should screen this group, and Tanja’s paper tells you which tool to grab first.

Baron-Cohen et al. (2005) built a stricter test for Asperger’s in adults. Their stricter rules fit well with Tanja’s advice to lower the SCQ cut-off so you do not over-diagnose.

If you work with adults who have ID, start with the SCQ-current. Expect some false positives and plan a full assessment next. Lower the cut-off if you want fewer false alarms. This one change saves time and gets clients the right support faster.