The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST): Sex Differences

摘要

The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST)(formally known as the Childhood Asperger Screening Test)identifies autism spectrum conditions by measuring socialand communication skills. The present study explored thesex distribution of scores. The CAST was distributed to11,635 children aged 4-9 years in Cambridgeshire primaryschools (UK). 3,370 (29%) were returned. The median scorewas significantly higher in boys (median test, P < 0.001)(Boys, median = 5 (IQR: 3,8); girls, median = 4 (IQR:2,6)). There was a predominance of boys (n 81 (79.4%)over girls (n = 21 (20.6%)) amongst those scoring > 15.Exclusion of children with ASC did not significantly affect the results. We conclude that different profiles of social andcommunication skills in boys and girls must be taken intoaccount when measuring these skills in the generalpopulation.