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Childhood Autism Rating Scale - Second Edition (CARS-2)

Since its original publication, the CARS has become one of the most widely used and empirically validated autism assessments. It has proven especially effective in discriminating between children with autism and those with severe cognitive deficits, and in distinguishing mild-to-moderate from severe autism. 

Now a revised second edition expands the test's clinical value, making it more responsive to individuals on the "high-functioning" end of the autism spectrum--those with average or higher IQ scores, better verbal skills, and more subtle social and behavioral deficits. While retaining the simplicity, brevity, and clarity of the original test, the CARS-2 adds forms and features that help you integrate diagnostic information, determine functional capabilities, provide feedback to parents, and design targeted intervention.

The CARS-2 is appropriate for use in a variety of settings and by a range of professionals including psychologists, specialist teachers, occupational therapists, physicians, speech/language therapists and audiologists who have had training in and exposure to autism. Use of this assessment must remain with the professional's scope of practice: For example, educational psychologists might use it for educational placement decisions, physicians as part of a medical diagnosis, specialist teachers to inform their curriculum planning. The CARS-2 does not provide a diagnosis on its own. To obtain a diagnosis other factors including (but not limited to) developmental history, medical symptoms and other unique characteristics need to be evaluated by professionals who are experts in autism, are trained to make differential diagnoses and are authorised to make clinical diagnoses.

The CARS-2 includes three forms:

  • Standard Version Rating Booklet (CARS2-ST): Equivalent to the original CARS; for use with individuals younger than 6 years of age and those with communication difficulties or below-average estimated IQ.
  • High-Functioning Version Rating Booklet (CARS2-HF): An alternative for assessing verbally fluent individuals, 6 years of age and older, with IQ scores above 80
  • Questionnaire for Parents or Caregivers (CARS2-QPC): An unscored scale that gathers information for use in making CARS2-ST and CARS2-HF ratings

The Standard and High-Functioning Forms include 15 items addressing the following functional areas:

  • Relating to People
  • Imitation (ST); Social-Emotional Understanding (HF)
  • Emotional Response (ST); Emotional Expression and Regulation of Emotions (HF)
  • Body Use
  • Object Use (ST); Object Use in Play (HF)
  • Adaptation to Change (ST); Adaptation to Change/Restricted Interests (HF)
  • Visual Response
  • Listening Response
  • Taste, Smell, and Touch Response and Use
  • Fear or Nervousness (ST); Fear or Anxiety (HF)
  • Verbal Communication
  • Nonverbal Communication
  • Activity Level (ST); Thinking/Cognitive Integration Skills (HF)
  • Level and Consistency of Intellectual Response
  • General Impressions

The CARS-2 Complete Kit includes: Manual, 25 Standard Version Rating Booklets (CARS2-ST); 25 High-Functioning Version Rating Booklets (CARS2-HF); 25 Questionnaires for Parents or Caregivers (CARS2-QPC).

Test Abbreviation: 
CARS-2
Registration Level: 
C
Age: 
2 +
Country of origin: 
USA
Publisher: 
Western Psychological Services
Timing: 
varies (untimed)
Work Area: 

Products available for this test

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All prices include GST

Product code Product title Price
8056CARSKT Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) Complete set $920.00
8056M CARS-2: Manual $350.00
8056HRS CARS-2: High Functioning Version Rating Booklets (pk25) $300.00
8056Q CARS-2: Questionnaire for Parents or Caregivers (pk25) $300.00
8056RS CARS-2 Standard Version Rating Booklets (Pk 25) $300.00