Understanding Your Child’s CARS Score: What It Means

July 19, 2025 shapingadmin Assessments, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy 0

Deciphering the Numbers: Your Child’s CARS Score Explained

After a detailed autism assessment, you may receive something that looks very clinical on paper. Specifically, a CARS score short for the Childhood Autism Rating Scale.

Now, this number can feel like a lot. On one hand, it brings clarity. On the other hand, it raises questions. What does it really mean? How serious is it? What should we do next?

You’re not alone in feeling this way. It’s completely normal to want to understand every part of your child’s journey, especially something that sounds so definitive.

At Shaping Therapies, Powai, we work with families every day who are navigating this stage. So, this guide is here to walk you through what that score means, how it’s used, and most importantly, how we can use it to build a roadmap for meaningful support.

A Quick Refresher: What Is the CARS Test?

The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) is a clinical tool used by trained professionals to help identify autism and understand how strongly certain characteristics are showing up in your child.

Unlike a yes-or-no test, CARS is observational and graded, giving insight into how your child interacts with people, communicates, adapts to change, processes sensory input, and more.

It’s not just one person’s opinion. The score is based on:

  • Direct observation of your child
  • Input from you (parents/caregivers)
  • The child’s developmental history

The result is a number, a score that gives us a sense of whether autistic traits are present, and if so, how significantly.

Why Your Child’s CARS Score Matters

This score isn’t just academic, it has real-world impact. It helps:

  • Identify whether behaviors align with autism
  • Clarify severity (mild, moderate, or severe traits)
  • Shape personalized therapy plans so that intervention is not one-size-fits-all
  • Track progress over time when the child is reassessed

Most importantly, it gives us a starting point, a way to move from uncertainty to action.

Breaking Down the CARS Score: What the Numbers Mean

Let’s simplify the scale:

CARS scores typically range from 15 to 60.

  • 15–29.5 = Non-Autistic Range: This suggests typical development or only very mild characteristics that don’t meet criteria for autism.

  • 30–36.5 = Mild-to-Moderate Autism: The child shows several consistent signs of autism, but they may be subtle or not deeply disruptive in all settings.

  • 37–60 = Severe Autism: The characteristics are strong, consistent, and are likely impacting daily functioning across multiple areas.

BUT HERE’S THE THING  numbers alone aren’t everything.
A score of 30 vs. 29.5 doesn’t magically change anything. What matters is the context, the individual behaviors behind the score, how they show up in real life, and how they evolve with the right support.

It’s Not Just About the Score  It’s About the Story It Tells

The total number is one part. But equally important is the breakdown:

  • Is your child struggling more with communication, or with flexibility during transitions?
  • Are sensory sensitivities showing up more than social challenges?
  • Are some strengths balancing out difficulties?

This level of detail helps us tailor therapy in a way that makes sense for your child.

For example:

  • A child who scores higher in “Adaptation to Change” might need occupational therapy strategies to build flexibility.
  • A child with high scores in “Verbal Communication” may need intensive speech-language support.

How We Use CARS at Shaping Therapies, Powai

At Shaping Therapies, Powai, we don’t just hand over a score and send you home.

Here’s what we do differently:

✅ Interpret the Score with Care: Our experienced team  psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists  reads between the lines of the score and the behavior patterns behind it.

✅ Build a Child-Specific Plan: We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all therapy. We design intervention plans based on each child’s unique profile  strengths, challenges, learning style, personality.

✅ Collaborate With You: You know your child best. We involve you in understanding the score, setting goals, and making decisions. It’s a partnership, not a prescription.

✅ Track Growth Over Time: The initial CARS score gives us a baseline. Over time, we can re-evaluate to see what’s changing, what’s working, and where to focus next.

From Score to Support: What You Can Do Next

If you’ve just received a CARS score  or are considering an autism assessment  know this:

📍 Understanding the number is just step one.
📍 The real value lies in what comes next  the support, the guidance, the progress.

At Shaping Therapies, Powai, we specialize in translating assessment results into real, practical help through:

Whether you’re at the start of the journey or looking for deeper answers, we’re here to help.

Let’s Talk

📞 Call us: 91 9867986646 / +91 22 69825910
🌐 Visit: https://www.shapingtherapies.com/
📩 Email: info@blog.shapingtherapies.com
📍 Location: Powai, Mumbai

Let’s sit together, make sense of the numbers, and create a plan that works  for your child, and for your family.

Conclusion: Your Child Is More Than a Score

Your child’s CARS score is important, but it’s not a label. It’s a guidepost that points us toward understanding, support, and growth.

At Shaping Therapies, Powai, we believe in looking beyond the number to see the whole child. And we’re committed to walking alongside you every step of the way.