ADOS?

[dingledangles]

Hi everyone, my daughter got a recommendation for a dyspraxia diagnosis from an OT privately last month, we have now been given an appointment for an ADOS on the NHS, can anyone explain more about what this is please and what this will entail? Thank you.

Hey its an autism diagnostic test.
They will usually have 2 paediatricians observe your child. They will do some structured play with her, interact with her and take notes. To get to this stage there must already have been concerns for it to be requested and evidence from school and from you etc.
They will then usually call you back a few weeks later with their conclusion or to ask for more evidence.

ADOS is used for autism. It's fairly informal, we had speech and language involved too. If you google ADOS for your local authority then it should bring up details for you specifically for your area.

I should say we had an ADOS and a DISCO assessment for our son.

What is a DISCO? I will have a google, but I tried earlier and got confused haha. I am confused as to how we got this - the doctor referred for ADHD but I've heard they don't assess that until 7, so I just thought we'd hear nothing. School have been unsupportive and refuse to acknowledge any of my concerns so I can't imagine it would be from their forms. I have filled in quite a few forms that I sent to them initially - so maybe it is just from that.

Can an ADOS lead to a diagnosis? Or is it an initial assessment? Thank you.

Pop over to the SN boards. You will get lots of answers from people who have been through it all.

I have written on there, but no answers yet, hopefully will get some soon :-) I posted in here as well in the hope some people may see!

Yes you can get a diagnosis at an ADOS appointment. Where I am it is a long (2-3 hour) appointment where one professional (paediatrician, speech therapist etc) completes the ADOS assessment and another professional talks to parents about concerns etc. They can give a diagnosis, no diagnosis or say they need more info e.g. observe in school.

Can't find any info online for my area! Hopefully will have more info once they send the letters out. Thank you everyone. Also have a 'medical' a few weeks before! Not sure what that would be either?

@Andjustlikethat

Thank you! Were you in the room and watching it all? I've received a letter to say there will be a paediatrician, a SALT and an OT. Did your child engage with the staff quite happily? How long did it take for you to receive the scores/report/diagnosis?

I am guessing that there is a scale and there's a certain score that would mean a diagnosis and then varying degrees of it?

If you don't mind me asking; did your child get a diagnosis and did you get further appointments/referrals? Did the diagnosis open any doors for your child at school?

So sorry for all the questions!

the point is they did not engage, erm, neurotypically.

ADOS, there are a few of them for childre n of different ages and abilities. (language)

there are a seriesof tasks or questions, the second one (some language) was play based. it was difficult for me as the parent to see whether he was showing autism or not. (I sat in with him and didnot talk) apart form when he could not see the imaginery something and looked under the table for it.

we are going through the process again. we have been told that they can diagnose if it is clear either way, or send for ADOS if they are not sure.

opening doors at school?

legally they now have to provide reasonable adjustments for his disability. I have had to push very hard for them.

It's the autism diagnostic observation schedule!

Basically there are different 'tests' for different stages of development.

The children don't realise they are being tested. They are spoken to, engaged in play and observed.

My ds picked up things like he doesn't direct facial expression to show feelings towards others. The clinical psychs couldn't even tell how he felt - although noted he did smile once.
Noted things such as he will answer a question but it's very short and he'll steer the conversation to his interests.
They said he talked very well about his 'recent' holiday. A trip he'd been on years before but showed the concept or importance of time didn't matter or register with him.

Is a fabulous assessment because even if no diagnosis of asd is given it lulls oht lots of different social, emotional and sensory needs and gives you something to work on.

There is a cross over with neuro diversity and neuro developmental disabilities (adhd, asd, dyspraxia etc) so some signs may be there but not all for asd diagnosis.

@BlackeyedGruesome going through it with a different child or the same? I know what you mean, I don't think my child has autism, but then I don't know what I am looking for!

@youarenotkiddingme yes you are so right, there may not be a diagnosis but I have the absolute privilege of my child being assessed by professionals and will surely give me info on all of those areas, which will help enormously to understanding what my child has difficulties with! And then can try and cater for that at home and hope they may at school. I'm so so so pleased we've been given this assessment, they are like gold dust! I had considered paying for a private one to rule autism out, but £1350 wasn't that appealing to me 🙄

Forgive me, privilege is not the right word there, I couldn't for the life of me find a better one, hopefully you'll understand what I mean!

yeah i get it.

two children, one diagnosed, The other I find out Thursday.