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The Autism Observation Scale for Infants: scale development and reliability data

Susan E Bryson1, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, Catherine McDermott

  • 1Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. susan.bryson@iwk.nshealth.ca

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|September 18, 2007
PubMed

Insights

The Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI) shows good reliability for detecting early autism signs in high-risk infants. This scale is a crucial first step in identifying infants who may develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Area of Science:

  • Developmental psychology
  • Pediatric neurology
  • Autism spectrum disorder research

Background:

  • Early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is critical for timely intervention.
  • High-risk infants, defined as those with an older sibling diagnosed with ASD, require specialized monitoring tools.
  • Existing methods may not adequately capture the earliest emerging signs of ASD in infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI) and detail its developmental process.
  • To present preliminary reliability data for the AOSI across different infant ages.
  • To establish the foundational reliability of the AOSI for future efficacy studies.

Main Methods:

  • Development of the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI).
  • Assessment of inter-rater reliability for total scores and endorsed items at 6, 12, and 18 months.
  • Evaluation of test-retest reliability of the AOSI at 12 months of age.

Main Results:

  • Good to excellent inter-rater reliability for AOSI total scores and item counts at 6, 12, and 18 months.
  • More modest reliability for individual items, especially in 6-month-old infants.
  • Acceptable test-retest reliability for the AOSI at 12 months.

Conclusions:

  • The Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI) demonstrates promising preliminary reliability.
  • Reliable data from the AOSI is essential for its validation in identifying infants at risk for ASD.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm the AOSI's efficacy in clinical settings.

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