Linking autism measures with the ICF-CY: Functionality beyond the borders of diagnosis and interrater agreement issues

Purpose: This study aims to: (1) link measurements used in the diagnosis of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health - Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY) and (2) analyse issues relating with interrater agreement within this process. Method: Three instruments for ASD diagnosis were linked with the ICF-CY using deductive content analysis. Results: Correspondences between items' content and ICF-CY dimensions were identified for all ICF-CY components, except for environmental factors. Interrater agreement varied with the content of the units analyzed. Conclusion: The linkage between the ICF-CY and the analyzed measures provides a way to document assessment-intervention outcomes using a common language, as well as to integrate diagnostic and functional data. Diagnostic measurements provide functional information beyond the diagnostic criteria defined for autism. A functional perspective is added to diagnostic outcomes, thus better informing educational and rehabilitation practices for children with ASD.