Low Verbal Investigatory Survey (LVIS) for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Approximately 30% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are considered minimally verbal, but there is no efficient and reliable way to measure the communicative capacity of these children. Our team developed the Low Verbal Investigatory Survey (LVIS), a brief parent-report measure; it is short, easy to complete, and requires no equipment other than a pencil or an internet connection! The LVIS was designed to capture the kind of language and communication skills that are seen in children with ASD. Our preliminary research indicates that the LVIS is reliable and seems to capture useful information, as it correlates with other non-ASD-specific measures of communication. We are continuing to work to validate this tool; please contact us if you are interested in incorporating the LVIS in your research.