The Social Communication Questionnaire in a sample of the general population of school-going children

Background  The social communication questionnaire (SCQ) for autistic spectrum disorder was previously validated in clinical populations. Aims  To describe the distribution of SCQ-scores in the general child population, and identify if traits from all domains of autism are present. Methods  The SCQ was completed by parents of children attending a mixed-gender primary school of 240 children. Results  Total SCQ scores ranged from 1 to 20, with a mode 1 and corrected mean of 3.89, SD = 2.77. SCQ items corresponding to all three domains of autism were found in the sample. Some items on the SCQ were answered as “autism-positive” for up to 41.8% of children in the general population sample. Conclusions  The SCQ has a wide range in the general population, with traits from all three domains of autism. Some items in the SCQ do not discriminate children with autism from other school-going children.