In Brief
The VAS-Parent-Follow-up assesses the presence and severity of ADHD symptoms in a child from the parent’s perspective. When given at intervals, it can be used to evaluate treatment effectiveness over time. It offers a structured way to track progress and guide treatment decisions, and encourages collaboration between clinicians and parents to ensure positive outcomes for children with ADHD.
The VAS-Parent-Follow Up is a crucial tool for any practice working with children and adolescents with ADHD, so let’s take a closer look into the specifics of this assessment and its clinical uses. We’ll discuss the main features of the VAS-Parent-Follow-up and discuss its role in ADHD treatment, as well as answer common questions and compare it to similar assessments.
When do you use the NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Follow-up (VAS-Parent-Follow Up)?
The NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Assessment Follow-up - Parent Informant (VAS-Parent- Follow-up) is a follow-up measure to the 55-question NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scale—Parent Informant scale and is used to track ADHD symptoms in children from the parent’s perspective. The VAS-Parent-Follow-up can be used to assess the severity of ADHD and comorbid oppositional-defiant symptoms, as well as track changes over the course of treatment. Parents/caregivers are asked to rate how often their child engages in behaviors related to attention (e.g., “Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly”) on a scale from “Never” to “Very Often” as well as rate their performance in specific areas (e.g., “Reading”) on a scale from “Excellent” to “Problematic.”
The assessment has been validated for use with parents of children aged 6 to 12 years old. In addition to measuring overall likelihood of ADHD, the measure includes subscales for domains of Symptoms and Performance.
The NICHQ Vanderbilt scales are particularly helpful for collecting data from parents and teachers regarding a child’s ADHD symptoms and attention-related behaviors and assessing their academic and behavioral performance over time. There is no set frequency for administering the VAS-Parent Follow-up, but it is generally recommended every two weeks or as clinically indicated to track progress.
The VAS-Parent-Follow-up should NOT be used alone to make any diagnosis; it should be used as a part of a comprehensive evaluation consisting of multiple sources of information. The VAS-Parent Follow-up primarily serves children with ADHD or suspected ADHD and may also be useful for those with comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
What do you learn from the NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Follow-up (VAS-Parent)?
The VAS-Parent Follow-up delivers important insights into a child's ADHD symptoms and treatment progress over time. Here's what you can gather from this assessment:
- Symptom Severity: The Symptoms subscale score (0-54) shows the severity of ADHD symptoms, with higher scores indicating more frequent and severe symptoms. Scores of 2 or 3 on individual items suggest behaviors that often occur and may require attention.
- Performance Issues: The Performance subscale score ranges from 8-40 if a child has siblings and 7-35 if they are an only child. This score reveals problems in various areas of functioning, such as school performance and relationships. Scores of 4 or 5 on individual items indicate significant difficulties that may need to be addressed in treatment.
- Treatment Effectiveness: Administering the VAS-Parent Follow-up regularly helps you track changes in symptom severity and performance over the course of treatment. Decreases in scores over time suggest that the current treatment plan works, while consistently high or increasing scores may indicate a need to adjust the intervention strategy. Additionally, the assessment inquires about whether the screening is being done during a time period when the child is on medications. This helps track the impact of medication on a child’s symptoms and functioning.
- Comorbid Conditions: The assessment also screens for symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), a common comorbid condition in children with ADHD. Elevated scores on items related to defiance, uncooperativeness, and hostility towards others may warrant further evaluation for ODD.
When used along with other sources of information, such as clinical interviews and teacher reports, the VAS-Parent Follow-up provides a comprehensive picture of a child's ADHD symptoms and their impact on daily functioning. This information plays a key role in developing targeted treatment plans and monitoring progress toward therapeutic goals.
Research and Evidence behind the NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Follow-up (VAS-Parent)
The National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ) developed the NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Follow-up (VAS-Parent) as a companion tool to the original NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scale—Parent Informant (VAS-Parent). This follow-up aims to track changes in ADHD symptoms and treatment effectiveness over time.
The VAS-Parent Follow-up builds on the strong research foundation of the original VAS-Parent, which several studies have validated its Psychometric Properties. In 2013, Bard et al. explored the psychometric properties of the VAS-Parent in a community population. Their results supported the reliability and validity of the scale for assessing ADHD symptoms in children aged 6-12 years old.
While researchers have not studied the VAS-Parent Follow-up as extensively as the initial informant scale, their design and content closely alignsuggesting similar psychometric properties and clinical utility. However, some limitations of the VAS-Parent Follow-up include:
- Limited Age Range: The assessment has only been validated for children aged 6-12 years old, which may limit its use with younger or older individuals.
- Parent-Report Only: As a parent-report measure, the VAS-Parent Follow-up depends on the caregiver's observations being accurate and objective. Including teacher reports or direct child assessments might offer a more comprehensive evaluation of ADHD symptoms.
Despite these limitations, the VAS-Parent-Follow-up remains a useful tool for monitoring ADHD symptoms and treatment progress in children. When used alongside the VAS-Parent-Informant, VAS-Teacher-Follow-up and other sources of clinical information, this assessment can assist therapists in making informed decisions and improving treatment outcomes for their young clients with ADHD.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When should I use the VAS-Parent Follow-up?
The VAS-Parent Follow-up tracks ADHD symptoms and treatment progress over time. It is typically administered every two weeks or as clinically indicated, following the initial assessment with the NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scale—Parent Informant (VAS-Parent).
How do I interpret the scores of the VAS-Parent Follow-up?
- Symptom Severity: The Symptoms subscale score (0-54) shows the severity of ADHD symptoms. Higher scores suggest more frequent and severe symptoms, with scores of 2 or 3 on individual items indicating behaviors that often occur. Higher scores in certain subsections of questions may also indicate inclination toward ADHD types.
- Performance Issues: The Performance subscale score (8-40 for children with a sibling, and 7-35 if the child is an only child) highlights problems in various areas of functioning. Scores of 4 or 5 on individual items indicate significant difficulties that may need to be addressed in treatment.
Can the VAS-Parent Follow-up be used for diagnosis?
No, the VAS-Parent Follow-up should not be used alone to diagnose ADHD. It is a tool for monitoring progress and should accompany a comprehensive evaluation, including clinical interviews, teacher reports, and the initial VAS-Parent assessment.
What age range is the VAS-Parent Follow-up appropriate for?
The VAS-Parent Follow-up is validated for children aged 6 to 12 years old. It specifically assesses ADHD symptoms and treatment progress in this age group.
How can the VAS-Parent Follow-up help inform treatment decisions?
By regularly administering the VAS-Parent Follow-up, clinicians can track changes in symptom severity and performance throughout treatment. Decreases in scores over time suggest that the current treatment plan is effective, while consistently high or increasing scores may signal a need to adjust the intervention strategy. This information can guide treatment decisions and ensure positive outcomes for children with ADHD.
Other Assessments Similar to NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Follow-up (VAS-Parent) to Consider
When tracking ADHD symptoms and treatment progress in children, several other assessments can work alongside the VAS-Parent Follow-up. These tools offer additional insights into a child's functioning and contribute to a thorough treatment plan. Consider the following assessments:
- Pediatric Symptom Checklist Youth Self-Report - Attention Subscale (PSC-Y-A): Adapted from the PSC-17-Y, this assessment helps identify and assess attention problems in children. Respondents rate how often they experience symptoms listed (e.g., “fidgety, unable to sit still”) on a scale from “never” to “often.”
- Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen Progress Monitoring - Parent Report (CATS-Progress Parent): ADHD is often misdiagnosed when the real culprit is trauma, and vice versa. This assessment is used as a progress monitoring tool in which parents rate how often their child experiences the post-traumatic stress symptoms listed.
These assessments, when used alongside the VAS-Parent Follow-up, offer a comprehensive approach to evaluating and treating ADHD in children. Combining input from parents, teachers, and the child gives a fuller understanding of the child's symptoms and functioning, allowing clinicians to make informed treatment decisions and improve outcomes.
