Info on ADOS test for 4 year old, HFA

[nad79]

Hi, my son is finally having an ADOS test in May. Do you think it is a good indicator for autism if they are high functioning? What are your experiences? He is 4 and some days I think he fine, what am I worried about, as he has improved a lot in certain areas. Other days I think it's ASD for sure. Curious on what they look at in the test. There's so much information on the internet and much of it is American. It's starting to hurt my head so thought I would ask on here. Thanks!

ADOS doesn't seem to be the best diagnostic tool for girls, my dd didn't get diagnosis at 12 but did at 15. It worked well for my DS but I was in the room and was able to give insight into some of his play, he looked as if he was playing like a typical child when in fact he was scripting a Peppa Pig episode word for word.

Hi

Rather than reiterate what my original post said...search my username and it will bring up a step by step account of the things my son (also 4) had to do in his ADOS and how he got on. (Was only Jan.)

I was also like yourself and some days thought 'he's fine' and other days wanted to cry because I thought 'how the hell can others not see he is CLEARLY autistic!'

Xx

I thought my ds would manage to convince Camhs he could manage interaction etc as he's pretty good with 1:1 with an adult who can lead conversation.

It's a bit of a lightbulb moment when this is exactly what they picked up on and noted that he could actually only interact when guided by an adult! They also picked up on lack of eye contact, lack of body language and learnt rules. For example when they asked him stuff about relationships (ds was 10 at the time) he could answer - but he couldn't explain why! Basically because he didn't know - he's just rote learnt answers to so many things!

The ados is not always accurate,my son had the ados when he was 5 and the feedback was not great, but they did put in his notes if his behaviours continued then to give him a diagnoses, however he has only just got his diagnoses and he is nearly 10.

DS1 (now 11) had the ADOS when he was a little over 3 and I was shocked when they said he met the ASD criteria. He had also been under SALT etc for a year before with all the observations going forward as well as the ADOS for the DX.

DS3 will be 4 when he has his ADOS in a couple of weeks. I'm not sure we'll come away with a dx but I'll find out soon enough.

Who carries out the ADOS. Dd has had various assessments and after completing all the forms she has just seen speech and language therapist who was going to observe her play etc. She didn't interact so observed her at school this week. Next appointment with Consultant Paed in May, after they all get together to discuss....?.?.?

Basically, we had an appointment with slt and she was going to observe dd play. Then get together with other slt to discuss/report and I believe she gets meets with the Consultant Paed. We have a meeting with the Cons Paed in A couple of months.

I must say,my son eventually got his diagnoses after the Ed pych came into school and done a report and also the Salt report, if nothing comes back from the Ados do not worry about it.

Thanks so much for your replies. I am counting the days to the ADOS. Everything has taken so long with my son, with professionals not referring him to services like they should. I have even been asked twice why I want the diagnosis and can't I just wait and see. The whole system where I live is so frustrating. It's good to hear other people's experiences though so thanks for getting back to me.

I have a dd with ASD. Girls can be harder to diagnose, DISCO is a better tool to diagnose girls. I'd been chasing a diagnosis for dd for sbout 2 years. School and community pead thought I was neurotic. Then I'd seen a child clinical psych and a local short-term service that dealt with sleep, behavorosl issues etc. She thought I was overanxious. At 6, dd self harmed triggering an instant cahms referral (otherwise we were told to go private, they fouldnt help us anymore). Cahms family therapist suspected ASD and did ADOS. I still didn't believe she'd 'pass'. But she did! I think it is very subjective. For instance, they felt her responses were rehearsed/not genuine. But she did answer their questions. So I suspect, in part, it can be based on the assessor. I was ready to seek a private diagnosis, I was really shocked.