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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 
February 2008, Volume 38, Issue 2, pp 213–223 | Cite as

A Scale to Assist the Diagnosis of Autism and Asperger’s Disorder in Adults (RAADS): A Pilot Study

Original Paper


An empirically based 78 question self-rating scale based on DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10 criteria was developed to assist clinicians’ diagnosis of adults with autism and Asperger’s Disorder-the Ritvo Autism and Asperger’s Diagnostic Scale (RAADS). It was standardized on 17 autistic and 20 Asperger’s Disorder and 57 comparison subjects. Both autistic and Asperger’s groups scored significantly higher than comparison groups with no overlap; sensitivity, specificity, and content validity equaled one. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of internal consistency of three subscales were satisfactory. Gender, age, and diagnostic categories were not significantly associated factors. The RAADS can be administered and scored in less than an hour and may be useful as a clinical scale to assist identification of autism and Asperger’s Disorder in adults. The RAADS does not distinguish between autism and Asperger’s Disorder.


Diagnosis Autism Asperger’s Disorder RAADS
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We wish to express our gratitude to David Allen, PhD; Anne Panofsky, PhD; Victoria Ritvo; Stephen Shore; Temple Grandin, PhD; Roger N. Meyer; Colleen Clegg and Alan Slifka for their invaluable contributions and support.


The Ritvo Autism Asperger’s Diagnostic Scale (RAADS) and Instructions for Scoring

The scale contains two types of questions: (a) 60 “positively worded questions” describing specific symptoms of autism and Asperger’s Disorder, and (b) 18 “negatively worded questions” to elicit “normally expected responses.” The longer a symptom has been present, it is considered more serious and will receive a higher score. To assess longevity and severity, each question can be answered: “True now and when I was young,” “True only now,” “True only when I was young,” or “Never true.” The “negatively worded questions” are identified by an asterisk by their number and are scored in reverse order, reflecting acquired social and language skills in the “True Only Now” column. Scores for each answer are:
Table A1

Scores for the Four Possible Answers

a n = 60 (No asterisk after question number). Example: 73. “The same sound sometimes seems very loud or very soft, even though I know it has not changed.”

b n = 18 (Asterisk after question number). Example: 13* “I like to have close friends.”

Determining a patient’s score: In order to identify the 60 positively worded questions and the 18 that are negatively worded, we have devised a simple code:

To score the scale, first write a number from 0 to 3 by the side of each question, depending on which box the patient checked. Second, enter the total for that page on the bottom of the page. Third, add the totals of each page to determine the total score for all 78 questions.

Clinical implications of a patient’s total score: Based on the statistical parameters described in the results section, the following conclusions can be drawn as shown in the following table.
Table A2

Using the Total Scale Score to Aid in Differential Diagnoses of Autism and Asperger’s Disorder

It will take you about an hour to answer all these questions.

Please stop if you become tired and start again when you are rested.

It is important to read each question completely and think of the answer carefully before checking only one of the four columns headed with these words:

Please answer the questions according to what is true for you and only what you feel is true and correct, not what you think others expect you to say or taught you to say.

Check only one column.

*24. Which questions did you like the best and why? Pick your three favorite questions. Write down the question number and explain what you liked best about the question:

*25. Which questions did you dislike and why? Pick three favorite questions that you disliked most. Write down the question number and explain why you didn’t like the question:



© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007



Ritvo, R.A., Ritvo, E.R., Guthrie, D. et al. J Autism Dev Disord (2008) 38: 213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0380-6



