ADOS test for 2.5 year old. What to expect?

[SumThucker]

I was just wondering if anyone has had experience? My 2.5 year old non-verbal son has it tomorrow, after a 4 month wait, and he's ill with a cold. I'm worried he'll be even less responsive than he normally would be.

Does anyone know what the assessment involves and if I'll be in the room with him?

It varies. I've been through 2, one was my son's and I was allowed to sit behind him but not interact at all, and the other was my own!

Some assessors will let you sit in or watch through a screen and some will use the time to interview you.

And the ADOS itself is heavily play based. It's really nothing to worry about.

Good luck

Thank you Polter

Thanks for the reply yesterday Polter, much appreciated. I was allowed in with him, I just wasn't allowed to interact with him, aside from when the Doctor asked me to call his name (which he repeatedly ignored).

I have to go back in two weeks for a talk about the results from today, although the Doctor did say "he obviously does score some points pointing towards Autism, and even though it's been a while since you first brought him it's just the beginning of the journey", so I'm unsure if I'll get a diagnosis or not at his next appointment.

Thanks again.

Can I ask what traits he has that have meant you've been able to get the ADOS? My DS is of similar age and although we have been referred to a speech therapist I don't seem to be getting anywhere

hilbil21 He was repeating some words and then stopped when he was around 13 months, and hasn't spoken since. He rarely made eye contact (although this has improved), he will only finger feed and drink from a bottle.
He has a lack of stranger awareness. He flaps his hands when excited and occasionally stims.
He doesn't interact with other children, he very rarely responds to his name. He walks predominantly on his tiptoes. He won't look across the room if I point to something. He doesn't react if I pretend to cry.

I took him to the GP and had to wait 5 months for an appointment with a Paediatrician, he assessed him for a while and then organised blood tests for Microarray, CK and TFT's, they came back clear. I then had to wait 4 months for the ADOS assessment.

Still waiting for an appointment for speech therapy though, it's totally booked up in my area.