Development and validation of the AIDA scale: Anxiety in people with autism and intellectual disability assessment.

Researchers created a new tool called the AIDA Scale to help identify anxiety in autistic people who have intellectual disabilities and limited speaking ability. This group has been overlooked in research because there weren't good tools to measure their anxiety. The study involved 247 parents and professionals and found the new scale works well. Having this tool is important because it can help ensure people get the right emotional support they need.

This study developed and validated the AIDA Scale, a new assessment tool for measuring anxiety symptoms in minimally verbal autistic people with intellectual disabilities. The research involved 247 participants (133 parents, 114 professionals) across three phases: indicator identification, pilot study, and validation. The study examined the scale's reliability through internal consistency measures and validity through dimensionality analysis and relationships with other variables. Results supported using a single total score that includes general behaviour and behavioural change indicators.

The AIDA Scale demonstrated effectiveness as an assessment tool for anxiety symptoms in this underserved population, addressing a critical gap in available measurement tools.

The AIDA Scale provides clinicians with a validated tool for assessing anxiety in minimally verbal autistic individuals with intellectual disabilities. This addresses a significant assessment gap and may improve identification of anxiety symptoms, leading to more appropriate emotional care and interventions for this vulnerable population.

The abstract does not specify the exact sample size of participants being assessed, demographic characteristics, comparison measures used for validation, or potential limitations of the scale's application across different severity levels or settings.

Minimally verbal autistic people with intellectual disabilities are at risk of anxiety, yet remain underrepresented in research due to the lack of tools adapted to their functional profiles. This study aimed to develop and validate the AIDA Scale: Anxiety in People with Autism and Intellectual Disability Assessment. A total of 247 participants (133 parents; 114 professionals) contributed across three phases: indicator identification, pilot study, and validation. Evidence of reliability (internal consistency and omega coefficient) and validity was gathered, including examination of the scale's dimensionality (parallel analysis, model fit indices, and factor loadings inspection) and its relationship with other variables.

Findings support the use of a single total score encompassing general behaviour and behavioural change indicators. The AIDA Scale is an effective tool for assessing anxiety symptoms in this population. Meeting these needs is critical for improving emotional wellbeing and ensuring people' rights to appropriate emotional care.