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The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) Part IV
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is frequently used as a part of an autism assessment. The ADOS was developed by a group of psychologists with expertise in research and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
The ADOS is a semi-structured assessment of communication, social interaction and play or imaginative use of materials for children, teenagers or adults suspected of having autism or other pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). This assessment tool is considered one of the "gold standards" for diagnosing autism spectrum disorders.
Clinicians who administer the ADOS are required to undergo specialized training in both administration and scoring.
The ADOS consists of four modules. The clinician chooses the appropriate module for the individual who is being tested. Each module is appropriate for children and adults of differing developmental and language levels. Language levels range from no expressive or receptive language to verbal fluency. Usually, a younger less verbal child's assessment is play based. An older more verbal child's is interview based. Examples of play based interactions involve blowing balloons or playing with a doll. Interview questions are varied and include questions about social relationships.
The modules provide communication sequences that are a combination of unstructured and structured situations. Each situation provides a different combination of "presses" for particular social behaviors. A "press" serves as an invitation for the client to participate socially with the clinician. Each situation provides a different combination of presses for particular social behaviors. These presses are planned social occasions where typical behavior is likely to appear. The individual is provided with numerous opportunities to exhibit behaviors. The examiner's role is to interact with the individual as well as to observe the responses to these presses. An example of a play based "press" is an invitation for a child to become involved in a pretend birthday party for a doll. Interview based "presses" are more typically comments that the examiner makes about his own experiences as a way to enter into a conversation with the individual.
The ADOS takes between 30 and 45 minutes to administer. The examiner will take some notes during the administration, but is focused primarily on interaction with the individual. It is recommended that the examiner videotape the session in order to clarify scoring questions that may come up after the testing is complete.
Scores on the ADOS are broken down into 3 categories, "Autism", "Autism Spectrum", and "Non Autism". Scores on the ADOS cannot be used in isolation to diagnose the client. Rather, the ADOS results are used as a part of an overall evaluation. This evaluation should consist of a complete developmental history obtained from interviewing the parents, review of any older evaluations and/or assessments, observations of the child and complete of behavioral checklists by parents and teachers.
Other tests may also be administered to obtain additional information regarding a child's speech/language, intellectual/academic abilities, and information processing.
The next series in Parent Matters will address the differences in Speech, Language, and Communication.. Be sure to catch these insightful installments from Speech Language Pathologist, Colleen Chambers. Be sure to check out this informative series.
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