Gilliam Autism Rating Scale - Third Edition (GARS-3)

Purpose: Identifies individuals with autism and estimates the severity.

Age: 3–22 years

Time: 5–10 minutes

The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale–Third Edition (GARS-3) assists teachers, parents, and clinicians in identifying autism in individuals and estimating its severity.

Items on the GARS-3 are based on the 2013 diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) adopted by the APA and published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

The instrument consists of 56 clearly stated items describing the characteristic behaviours of persons with autism. The items are grouped into six subscales:

1. Restrictive/Repetitive Behaviors
2. Social Interaction
3. Social Communication
4. Emotional Responses
5. Cognitive Style
6. Maladaptive Speech

Key Features

• Forty-four new items were added to the GARS-3
• Yields standard scores, percentile ranks, severity level, and probability of Autism
• All six subscales have been empirically determined to be valid and sensitive for identification of children with ASD
• An interpretation guide in the Examiner’s Manual allows the examiner an easy and efficient method for assessing the probability of autism spectrum disorder and the severity of the disorder
• A diagnostic validation form is included for insuring that test results meet DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder