ADOS test ... what to expect and how reliable is it?

[BentFinger]

Hello,

My son has been going through the diagnostic process for over 4 years now, and finally he has an ADOS test coming up. His clinical psychologist has said she will do it in two halves, as she doesn't feel that he would cope with a full hour long session.

What should we be expecting? And how reliable are the results, and how do they score them?

After such a long wait I don't want all of this to amount to nothing, we have seen paed, OT sessions, SALT, social development classes, and now clinical psychologist...

His clinical psychologist has said she's pretty certain that he will get a dx of AS, but they still need to do these tests and questionnaires etc. She's also concerned that he has full blown OCD too, as his OCDness isn't quite what they would expect as part of an asd.

He really needs the support at school, and especially for when he goes up to high school in a few years (he's 8). I worry that if he doesn't "pass" this ADOS test then he won't get a dx and that would mean no support. He has so many problems, and every professional we've seen has said that he is a very complex case. Any words of wisdom gratefully appreciated.

Thanks.

I've heard that for very high functioning kids it doesn't always pick them up also for younger kids its not always that good if they are HF. In clear cut cases then its good.

Thanks Chundle. My son is high functioning. Do you know if the results from this test are the only thing taken into account for the dx, or do they take other things into account? We have done a cast test, he's had observations at school from ed psych, lots of 1 to 1 with the clin psych, input from various professionals, all of whom have said they think he is on the spectrum.

Agree with Chundle. DS1 dx with ASD (last week!) described as Aspergers. Not clear cut v complex and twice ADOS failed to pick him up. they look for things like eye contact. reciprocal sharing fun and games. at least they did in his he's 6. there are different versions for different ages i believe. it doesn't test for imagination, and our psych saw through that and picked up on DS1 severe lack of it.

Interesting though cos I asked about OCD and was told they won't dx it till he's 11. He's 6.

thanks jerhil. i don't think she's after getting a dx of OCD, just that she thinks he has it. She does a lot of one to one sessions with him, trying to give him some coping strategies to manage his anxiety. So did your son have another ados test that picked up his asd, or was he given the dx without a positive ados test result?

2 x ADOS tests. No positive result except for in the reciprocal social interaction where he did go into the ASD cutoff. overall he didn't score on the ADOS twice! the first, a psychologist, then said he's not got ASD in her opinion. second opinion, a psychiatrist says he does have too many symptoms and dx despite the ADOS. From my very limited experience I'd say the professionals all act differently and some will/some won't dx without ADOS IMO of course.
wishing you so much luck and hope you get the answers you're looking for.

Thank you so much! Hopefully he will get the dx. His clin psych seems pretty sure that he will, but I've got myself worked up over this ados test and the fact that they all say he is complex.

I've just realised that I called you jerhil instead of jerbil! Sorry. I have now put on my glasses

and I didn't notice :-)

It sounds to me that your PCT just has to go through every single thing ticking the box to say that it is done. If all of the professionals are saying that they think it is AS then it is likely he will get it IMO. The ADOS was very low stress for DS. I linked yesterday or this morning on another similar thread what the test actually comprises of.

This is a good link
teacherpages.nhcs.net/schools/parsley/karlysokolowski/Documents/Karly/Protocols/Autism%20Rating%20Scales/ADOS/ADOS%20Module%203%20Administration%20Protocol.doc
My dd is complex and didn't score on the ADOS. We were told it should only be used as part of the assessment and that some children especially high functioning can manage in the clinical setting for that period of time. She was still diagnosed ASD.

teacherpages.nhcs.net/schools/parsley/karlysokolowski/Documents/Karly/Protocols/Autism%20Rating%20Scales/ADOS/ADOS%20Module%203%20Administration%20Protocol.doc

Hi Bent, my DS did the ADOS yesterday and I found there was quite a lot on it to test his imagination (a lot of pretending certain objects were something else and asking him to pretend little scenarios (he couldn't!)). I was told that the results from the test are not the only things they take into consideration for the diagnosis. They take a lot of info from parents to ascertain behaviours at home etc.

Thanks for the replies folks.

That link is very useful, I've often wondered what the ados test was, even before I knew my ds would be taking one.

Zen, did you get to watch him doing the test?

That's exactly the questions that DS had. I did get to watch.

Oooh I hope I get to watch too!

Thanks again everyone for the replies :)