The Utilisation of Adaptive Behaviour Assessment Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Adaptive behaviour in children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined as the degree to which the children can be self-reliant and function independently in real-life conditions. Assessing the adaptive behaviour is vital to provide insight and guide the diagnosis of ASD. Therefore, this scoping review aims to map the utilization of adaptive behaviour assessments conducted by occupational therapists for children with ASD. Published articles between 2006 and 2020 were retrieved from three databases, including Scopus, Cochrane Library, and the Web of Sciences, that included English, full-text published articles, reviews, or thesis which provide relevant highlights on adaptive behaviour assessment for ASD. Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria. There are three themes emerged from the review: adaptive behaviour as an individual, adaptive behaviour as a society and utilising the instrument. Adaptive behaviour assessment has been used as a comprehensive monitoring tool for functional status among children with ASD. This scoping review mapped the utilization of adaptive behaviour assessment by an occupational therapist that directs future research and clinicians on potential future guidelines of adaptive behaviour evaluation for children with ASD.