Aberrant Behavior Checklist

What is the Aberrant Behavior Checklist?

The is a nifty screening tool used to assess a child for the severity of their behavioral problems and any developmental disabilities they might have, especially if they have Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The checklist comes with fifty-eight items for an observer to rate, and they are all divided into five different behavioral categories:

• Irritability
• Hyperactivity
• Lethargy
• Stereotypic behavior
• Speech

How to use the Aberrant Behavior Checklist

Rate the child based on the fifty-eight items.

Using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist is straightforward and easy! The observer must rate the fifty-eight items between 0-3 based on the past four weeks before engaging with the checklist!

Here are the score designations:

• 0 = Not at all a problem
• 1 = The behavior is a problem, but slight in degree
• 2 = The problem is moderately serious
• 3 = The problem is severe in degree

You also have to keep the following points in mind:

• The frequency of the problem: if, for example, your child throws temper tantrums more than most children, then they should probably be rated with a 2 or 3 even if it only occurs once or twice a week
• Think about how the child behaves when they are with others, not just you
• Is the behavior interfering with the child’s development, functioning, and their relationships with others?

Lastly, as much as possible, don’t spend too long when it comes to thinking about each item. Your first reaction is normally the correct answer, so rate accordingly.

Calculate and interpret the scores.

Once you have fully accomplished the checklist, it’s time for you to calculate the scores as well as interpret them. To do that, purchasing a kit from the Stoelting Co. official website would be best to get all the necessary materials for accurate calculations and scoring.

Develop a care plan based on the results of using the checklist kit.

Suppose you have purchased an official kit and used it to calculate and interpret the scores based on the five behavior categories. In that case, you can use those calculations and interpretations to help you determine what goes into your care plan.

When does one normally use the Aberrant Behavior Checklist?

The Aberrant Behavior Checklist can be used when a child (whether they have ASD or not) exhibits behavioral problems and developmental disabilities. The earlier it is used, the better because you’ll be able to determine how to curb these problems and developmental disabilities the child may have before they worsen.

It can also be used to monitor the child every now and then post-care plan implementation.

Who can use the Aberrant Behavior Checklist?

The following healthcare professionals can use the Aberrant Behavior Checklist for their work:

• Pediatricians
• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Counselors

It’s not just those four types of professionals. Any healthcare professional who specializes in treating people with developmental disabilities, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, can definitely use this.

What are the benefits of using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist?

It’s easy to use!

Using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist to assess children is practical because it’s straightforward and easy to use. Since purchasing it also comes with scoring components, you can calculate and interpret them easily.

It allows for a comprehensive examination of a child.

Given that you are assessing a child’s behavioral problems and developmental disabilities, the best way to be effective with the assessment is to look at them from various aspects. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist helps you do that since it seeks to assess the child in terms of Irritability, Hyperactivity, Lethargy, Stereotypic Behavior, and Speech.

Your assessment of the child will become more informed if you use this alongside other types of behavioral assessments or worksheets.

This will make your care plan well-informed and comprehensive as well.

It’s a good checklist to use for monitoring patients.

Given that it has a scoring system and assesses a child based on several behavioral categories, this is a good thing to reissue occasionally after implementing your treatment plan. Doing so will help you track any changes in the patient and see if your treatment plan should be maintained or if it needs some tweaking to see if any changes you need to make will improve things.