A method of rating behaviour characteristies for use in large scale surveys of mental handicap

Abstract

SynopsisTwo scales are described which have been found useful in the measurement of relevant behaviour characteristics of mentally handicapped people in large scale surveys. One scale rates according to levels of continence, ambulance, and the presence of specified disruptive behaviours, while the other reflects speech, self-help, and literacy abilities. This information has been found useful in the planning and implementation of services for the mentally handicapped.

The Prevalence and Phenomenology of Repetitive Behavior in Genetic Syndromes

“…The distributed questionnaire pack included a demographic questionnaire, the Autism Screening Questionnaire (ASQ; Berument et al, 1999), the Wessex Scale (Kushlick et al, 1973), and the Repetitive Behaviour Questionnaire (Moss & Oliver, 2008). The present study was conducted as part of a larger postal survey.…”

“…Wessex Scale (Kushlick et al, 1973). The Wessex Scale is an informant questionnaire designed to assess the social and physical characteristics of children and adults with intellectual disability.…”

“…The Wessex Scale also provides information on vision and hearing. Inter-rater reliability at subscale and item level is good (Kushlick et al, 1973;Palmer & Jenkins, 1979).…”

“…Pearson partial correlations (controlling for scores on the self help subscale of the Wessex Scale; Kushlick et al, 1973) were conducted between the Repetitive Behaviour Questionnaire and the Autism Screening Questionnaire (ASQ) at subscale and total score levels and on those items that had been identified as demonstrating high specificity within the syndrome groups. (Summers, Allison, Lynch & Sandler, 1995).…”

“…Table 2 describes the characteristics of the remaining participants (N=797). All participants were aged between 4 and 51 years (mean = 16.46; SD = 9.88) and 519 (65.1%) participants were male, 573 (71.9%) participants were able or partly able (score above six on the self help subscale of the Wessex Scale; Kushlick, Blunden & Cox, 1973). 468 (58.7%) participants were fully mobile, 545 (68.4%) participants were verbal (more than thirty words/signs in their vocabulary), 575 (72.1%) participants had normal vision and 691 (86.7%) participants had normal hearing.…”