Preliminary psychometric properties of the Autism Classification System of Functioning: Social Communication (ACSF: SC) in Farsi speaking children.

BACKGROUND

Autism Classification System of Functioning: Social Communication (ACSF: SC) assesses typical performance and capacity of communication. Farsi version of ACSF: SC was developed and its psychometric properties investigated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The English version of ACSF: SC was translated into Farsi and cultural adaptation was completed. The content validity of the adapted version was evaluated by experts and parents. The back-translated version was approved by www.canchild.ca. Therapists and parents assessed face validity. Correlation between ACSF: SC and the Children's Communication Checklist (CCC) was analyzed to determine concurrent validity. For inter-rater reliability, 5 speech and language pathologists, 5 occupational therapists, and 35 parents participated to assess the communication level of 35 autistic children aged 3-6. The test-retest reliability was performed at the interval of 14 days.

RESULT

The results of analyses for typical performance and capacity showed the communication levels of children in ACSF: CS were directly related to subscales of CCC including inappropriate initiation ( ≥ 0.46) and stereotypical conversation ( ≥ 0.45). The weighted kappa inter-rater reliability ranged from good (0.54) to excellent (0.77); and the test-retest reliability varied from good (0.63) to excellent (0.85).

CONCLUSION

Adapted version of ACSF: CS is able to estimate the communication function of Farsi- speaking autism spectrum disorder children.