The evaluation process and clinical tools for assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the DSM-5 era
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental pathology characterisized by a broad array of symptoms including deficits in social interaction and communication as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Substantial heterogeneity exists in symptoms expressions in children with ASD, which makes autism a complex disorder to identify and diagnose. Healthcare clinicians mostly rely on the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; APA, 2013) to make a mental health diagnosis. However, several screening and diagnostic tools allow clinicians to increase the quality of their assessment by identifying the probabilities of ASD and the severity of symptoms. Yet, from tools available, it can be difficult to choose those who are most appropriate to the appraisee (i.e., age, severity of symptoms) and that have good psychometric properties. This paper aims to present and analyze ASD assessment tools available to clinicians working with a population at risk for autism. In conclusion, we present a process and tools to promote.