ABSTRACT
This chapter is a comprehensive reference manual providing information on the Leeds Assessment Scale of Handicap (LASH), which is a clinician rating scale that was developed specifically to assess handicap in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. The LASH examines nine hierarchical levels of functioning in four domains: Physical independence, Mobility, Orientation and Social integration. The recommended method of completing the LASH is at a multidisciplinary case conference using the clinicians’ collective knowledge and observations of the patient to classify level of functioning on the four items. Predictive validity was established using admission LASH scores and examining length of rehabilitation admission and discharge destination. A brief history of the instrument's development is provided, along with a description of item content and administration/scoring procedures. Psychometric properties are reviewed and a critical commentary is provided. Key references are cited and in most cases the actual scale is included, giving the reader easy access to the instrument.
