SCQ - Social Communication Questionnaire

The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) is a caregiver-reported questionnaire that evaluates social communication and interaction patterns in individuals suspected of being autistic. It was derived from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). It is designed for use with children and adults who have a mental age [see post on why "mental age" is problematic] of at least 2 years and 6 months. It is often used as a screening tool in clinical and research settings. [See posts on other Screening/Diagnostic Measures].

Limitations:

• The SCQ is a screening tool and should not be used as a standalone diagnostic instrument. A comprehensive evaluation by a trained clinician using multiple assessment methods is necessary for a formal autism diagnosis.
• Co-occurring Conditions: Many individuals with ASD may have co-occurring conditions such as intellectual disabilities, language impairments, ADHD, anxiety, or sensory processing difficulties. The SCQ focuses specifically on social communication and interaction and may not fully capture the range of challenges associated with co-occurring conditions such as language challenges, ADHD, anxiety or sensory processing.
• Caregiver reports are subject to biases and inaccuracies, as they rely on the caregiver's observations and interpretations of the individual's behaviors.
• Caregivers' ability to accurately report on specific social communication behaviors and experiences of nonspeaking autistics may be limited.
• The SCQ is not designed to assess other developmental disabilities apart from ASD.

The SCQ consists of 40 items that are grouped into three sub-measures:

• Reciprocal Social Interaction: assesses social behaviors such as eye contact, sharing enjoyment, and social responsiveness.
• Communication: evaluates verbal and nonverbal communication skills, including language development and understanding of social cues.
• Restricted, Repetitive, and Stereotyped Patterns of Behavior (RRBI): examines behaviors related to restricted interests, repetitive movements, and adherence to routines.

For each of the 40 items, caregivers or parents indicate whether the behaviors are typically present (scored as 1) or not present (scored as 0) in their child. The total score ranges from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating a higher likelihood of ASD-related difficulties. Specific cutoff scores for classification as "at risk" for ASD may vary depending on the population being assessed and the purpose of the screening.

History and Revisions:
The SCQ was developed by Michael Rutter, Ann Le Couteur, and Catherine Lord in 2003. It was based on the ADI-R and was designed to be a briefer screening tool for ASD. The SCQ has since been revised and updated to improve its psychometric properties and align it with the diagnostic criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Citation: Rutter, M., Le Couteur, A., & Lord, C. (2003). The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.