PDDBI

PDD Behavior Inventory

Details

Purpose

Assesses responsiveness to intervention in children with ASD

Authors

Ira L. Cohen, PhD, and Vicki Sudhalter, PhD

Administration Formats

Print
Digital

Additional Details

Informant-based Rating Scale Designed to Assist in the Assessment of Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

The PDDBI was developed with several primary goals in mind:

  • To provide an assessment of autism that results in age-standardized scores.
  • To create items that measure both problem behaviors and social communication skills relevant to autism.
  • To include separate inventories for parents and teachers, in order to address the issue of generalization.
  • To include a measurement system (i.e., Likert scaling) that has been shown to be useful in measuring responsiveness to intervention and/or detecting change.
  • To create an assessment tool that would be sensitive to, and useful for, multiple applications (e.g., clinical, medical, school, research).
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Features and benefits

  • Unlike existing assessments for ASD, the PDDBI was developed to assess both problem behaviors as well as appropriate social, language, and learning/memory skills.
  • Applicable in school, clinical, and research applications.
  • Use the PDDBI for assessment, treatment planning, and treatment monitoring.
  • The PDDBI (along with the SIPAPSI-4-SF, and SRS-2) meet the requirements for ABA therapists working with autism patients who have federal health insurance (i.e., TRICARE).
  • Age-standardized scores for parent and teacher ratings are provided in a new score report that more clearly indicates score ranges and provides items and responses organized by domain.
  • The PDDBI Score Report provides an interpretive guidance section, a clean look and feel with icons clearly indicating score ranges, and an optional items and responses section.
  • The PDDBI Multirater Report allows you to select one parent rating and one teacher rating to get a detailed look at both sets of results, with significant differences clearly highlighted, both ratings plotted together on the profile, and an optional item and response section.  Access for free in PARiConnect once you purchase a Score Report.
  • The PDDBI Progress Monitoring Report allows you to compare scores from one rater for up to four time points. Get a detailed look at progress or decline, with significant differences between time points clearly highlighted, all ratings plotted together on the profile, and an optional item and response section. Time point-by-time point comparison tables are also included. Access for free in PARiConnect once you purchase a Score Report.
  • A Spanish translation of the parent form is available.
  • Screen for autism in children, in 10 minutes, with the PDD Behavior Inventory Screening Version (PDDBI-SV).

Additional components

PDDBI Professional Manual Supplement: Advanced Score, Multirater, and Progress Monitoring Interpretation

This supplement provides new guidance for calculation and interpretation of parent–teacher rating comparisons and tracking changes in scores over time, using Reliable Change Indices. In addition, it includes guidance for advanced interpretation of the PDDBI, from interpreting individual scores and clusters to comparing parent and teacher ratings and tracking scores over time. This manual supplement applies to ages 1:6 to 18:5 years.

PDDBI Professional Manual Supplement: Autism Spectrum Disorder Decision Tree (ASD-DT)

The ASD-DT is designed to enhance the diagnostic power of the PDDBI. Once a parent or teacher has completed the Extended Form, the ASD-DT allows you to use those scores to complete the branches of a decision tree that ultimately results in a diagnostic category. An algorithm is used to transform PDDBI scores into subgroups of ASD (Atypical ASD, Minimally Verbal ASD, or Verbal ASD) as well as non-ASD subgroups. Intervention suggestions and further recommendations are provided for all subgroups. The ASD-DT is designed to be used with individuals ages 1:6 to 12:5 years. PARiConnect reports automatically include the ASD-DT report when appropriate.

PDDBI Professional Manual Supplement: Adolescent Normative Data

This supplement extends the age range of the PDDBI normative data to age 18:5 years. Ideal for use when monitoring progress over time, this extension to the normative data can be used with both parent and teacher ratings on the PDDBI. The standardization sample includes individuals from a range of racial and ethnic backgrounds and geographic regions. The adolescent normative data are appropriate for use when either the standard or extended items are administered. The normative data are available on PARiConnect reports.

Supplemental material from PDDBI author Ira L. Cohen explains how to use the Autism Spectrum Disorder Decision Tree with the PDDBI for screening and intervention planning. A second white paper explains the creation and use of the new Spanish translation of the PDDBI Parent Form. Visit the Resources tab above to view or download.

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Photo of PDD Behavior Inventory ™ | PDDBI Autism Test | PAR
Age Range 1.5 years to 18 5/12 years
Admin Time 30-45 minutes for Extended Forms; 20-30 minutes for Standard Forms
Qualification Level S

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FAQs

What is the technical information for the PDDBI™?

Test structure

  • The standard set of items is appropriate if the primary concerns are specifically related to autism (e.g., whether treatment is specifically affecting targeted behaviors).
  • The extended set of items—available on both parent and teacher rating forms—is appropriate when you want to assess aspects of the child’s behaviors beyond those specifically associated with autism (e.g., fear and aggression); these may be relevant in the determination of placement and treatment recommendations.

 

Structure of the PDDBI Standard and Extended Forms

 

Interpretation Steps

 

More information can be found in the PDDBI Professional Manual Supplement: Advanced Score, Multirater, and Progress Monitoring Interpretation.

Technical information

  • The original standardization sample consisted of 369 parents and 277 teachers of children ages 1:6 to 12:5 years with well-defined autism from a range of racial/ethnic backgrounds and geographic regions. The Adolescent Normative Data manual supplement extended the norms to age 18:5 years, using ratings from an additional 147 parents and 101 teachers.
  • Concurrent validity was assessed through comparison with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, the Nisonger Child Behavior Scales, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, and the Griffiths Mental Development Scales.
  • Clinical validity was assessed through comparison with the ADI™-R, the ADOS™-G, and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales.
  • In the original manual, test–retest stability for the teacher ratings ranged from .65 to .99 over an average 2-week interval. For the parent sample, test–retest stability coefficients ranged from .38 to .91 over a 12-month interval.
  • The new Advanced Score, Multirater, and Progress Monitoring Interpretation manual supplement includes ratings from parent–teacher pairs of 225 children with autism, with interrater reliability coefficients ranging from .31 to .88. This manual supplement also includes test–retest ratings from 233 parents over an average 6-month interval (retest coefficient range = .69–.84), and test–retest ratings from 37 teachers over an average 14-month interval (range = .57–.93). Reliable change indices are provided in the manual and the new Multirater and Progress Monitoring Reports to detect significant differences (a) between raters and (b) over time.

What are the benefits of the Advanced Score, Multirater, and Progress Monitoring Interpretation Manual Supplement?

PDDBI Author Ira CohenThis supplement to the PDDBI manual is unique. It explains in detail how to select informants, how to use PARiConnect to administer the PDDBI, how to interpret raw, cluster, and T- scores, how to properly score non-verbal children, how to interpret and examine the statistical significance of differences in T-scores across parent and professional informants, how to use the ASD-Decision Tree (ASD-DT) to assist with diagnostic and referral decisions, and how to examine and interpret the statistical significance of differences in T-scores over time from the same informant for a given child. One of our independent reviewers said, 'I usually do not enjoy reading manuals, but this one was very engaging.' I hope you too find this addendum to the PDDBI engaging and helpful.

- Ira L. Cohen, PhD

How can the PDDBI reports help me plan for the treatment of my ASD clients?

PDDBI Author Ira CohenI developed the PDDBI to assist both clinicians and researchers in assessing children on the autism spectrum (ASD). The new Multirater and Progress Monitoring Reports along with the recently enhanced Score Report provide information in great detail and in an easy-to-understand format that can be used to provide feedback to families and referring professionals. I recommend you use these reports to help you:

  • See the extent to which a child’s scores conform to what would be expected for ASD and are not too high or too low.
  • See the extent to which parent and teacher/other professional informant scores agree with one another.
  • Quantify a child’s assets and deficits.
  • Monitor change over time for the better or for the worse.
I hope you too find these new reports engaging and helpful.

- Ira L. Cohen, PhD

 

I’m treating autistic patients who have TRICARE insurance. Is the PDDBI approved by TRICARE’s Autism Care Demonstration (ACD) program?

Yes. The PDDBI is approved by TRICARE for use by ABA therapists. According to the ACD, TRICARE requires the following age-based outcome measures for beneficiaries at initial assessment and every six months:

  • PDDBI (2 years–18.5 years, but can accept as early as 1.5 years)

PAR publishes two other tests that evaluate parent stress and are part of the ACD program.

  • PSI-4-SF (0 years–12 years and 11 months)
  • SIPA (11 years–19 years and 11 months)

PAR distributes the SRS-2 which is also part of the Autism Care Demonstration program.

Please visit the TRICARE website for more information about autism tests.

Case Studies for the PDDBI

PDDBI Leo Case Study

Leo: An Abbreviated Case Study of Using the PDDBI Multirater Report to Diagnose ASD

Background

Leo was evaluated at 6 years, 11 months of age for diagnostic confirmation of autism. Leo's PDDBI parent report was consistent with the diagnosis of ASD, with an atypical ASD profile characterized by relatively mild- to- moderate behavior problems and relatively weak social communication skills. His teacher's ratings resulted in a classification of Minimally Verbal ASD characterized by more severe problem behaviors.

Test Results

The T-Score Profile in the new PDDBI Multirater Report illustrates the cross-informant agreement (i.e., non-significant differences) on several domains under Approach/Withdrawal Problems (AWP) and on all the Receptive/Expressive Social Communication Abilities (REXSCA) domains. However, there were significant discrepancies (marked below the profile with "!!" icons) between parent and teacher reports in three of the AWP domains (SENSORY, FEARS, and AGG) and both associated composites (REPRIT/C and AWP/C). The profile indicates that the parent reported fewer problems at home (T scores in the average range for autism) than the teacher did at school (T scores in the range of severe problems).

Outcome

Examination of each informant's cluster scores later in the report indicated marked discrepancies in several areas, including auditory and social withdrawal behaviors, problems with caregiver return, and aggressiveness toward others. Supplemental information from Leo's parents and teacher indicated that noise levels at school and Leo's intolerance for change likely played a role in these differences between settings. Understanding the differences between settings helped his school team develop a specific plan to help his teacher manage his behaviors and mitigate his distress.

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Donna: An Abbreviated Case Study of Using the PDDBI Progress Monitoring Report to Evaluate Autism Treatment Over Time

Background

Donna was first referred around age 2 years because of delayed milestones and irritable behaviors. Over the next few years repeat assessment indicated little progress with intervention, and she was eventually diagnosed with and treated for inflammatory bowel disease. She was re-assessed a third time just before she turned 5 years old; she was diagnosed with autism, and her PDDBI at that time showed ongoing concerns with expression language and social skills.

Test Results

Donna was evaluated for a fourth time with the PDDBI one year later, when she was almost six years old, to assess for treatment gains and to help update her therapy needs. Compared to her evaluation one year prior, Donna’s PDDBI T scores showed significant improvements (denoted by “!” and “!!” icons in the score table, with the “4” icon consistently indicating that time 4 scores were significantly better) in problem behaviors in three AWP domains and the accompanying composite. In each case, the magnitude of change was seen in only small percentages of the progress monitoring sample (less than 7%), indicating that this magnitude of change is unexpected in the absence of intervention. In the REXSCA dimension, the EXPRESS and LMRL domains showed significant improvements in abilities, as did both composites. A significant decrease in the overall AUTISM composite reflected these improvements.

Outcome

These gains were directly related to her ongoing treatment without the interference of medical symptoms, as her bowel condition had been successfully treated, and they had been targeting social prag¬matics and sensory tolerances with behavioral desensitization over the previous year. Her evaluating clinician recommended maintaining several of her treatment goals and setting additional goals for expressive language and social overtures.