ADOS - what to expect?

[shamu]

Hope this is the right forum to ask this....

DS (age 3 last week) has his ADOS on Thursday and I'm not at all sure what to expect....I haven't any experience of the ADOS as a tool and don't really know much about it. What sort of stuff will he be asked to do? Will I be in the room with him or in another room observing him (and probably crying my eyes out ) I'm really dreading it to be honest as I'm pretty sure he's not going to do well (the psychotherapist has said not to expect it to bring out his strengths ) Am I likely to get any immediate feedback or will it be another long wait? I'd just like to be prepared if they're going to work out the score and tell me there and then

Thanks

Shamu

[Cat]

It's highly unlikly that they will tell you there and then - but I have been known to be wrong. They may give you some feedback I got some but not a firm dx. The way it works where we live is that they do the assessment and usually ask for permission to video it. That's because they then watch it back to make certain that they make the right diagnosis if any.

 

Most of it is play based nothing nasty for the child - however it depends on how compliant the child is and your son is very young. I sat in when my eldest had this done and he was 13. Yes it was quite upsetting because at 13 I could clearly see where his deficits were. But I had spent 10 years trying to get a diagnosis for my son so it was also something of a relief. It helped us to move forward which was good. I hope it goes smoothly for you and try not to worry to much in advance sometimes the fear of the unknown is far worse than actually knowing.

 

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Cat

[shamu]

Thanks Cat

I am still in a really difficult place when it comes to DS - still mourning for the little boy I knew and loved a year ago and coming to terms with the new one he's become.... I'm hoping that all of this will help us to move on but I'm feeling really stuck at the moment.

We have a multidisciplinary care plan meeting in January so I imagine that's when they'll feed back to me in the main, but I will have my paeds knowledge behind me when they're doing the test so will no doubt see very clearly where his deficits are

Shamu

Edited December 12, 2006 by shamu

[cmuir]

Hi

 

My son had an ADOS back in May. After assessment after assessment, then the ADOS, two weeks later we had the results.

 

Basically an ADOS assessment is specific tasks setup to enable the professionals to assess understanding, imagination, motor skills, speech, behaviour, etc. My son's was videotaped. Present were a specialist consultant and a speech and language therapist. The activities were all age comensurate (my son was 4.5 at the time). He was asked to look at picture books and say what was happening in the pictures. He was given different bags of toys to see what 'stories' he'd make up with them. There were toys eg pin art, spinning top, building blocks, etc to see how he was going to play with them. It lasted nearly 2 hours. At first Robert was very hostile and uncooperative, but apparently that's fine. It's all part of the assessment! The specialists then retire after the ADOS and look back at the videotape for things like eye contact, etc. It felt like an agonising wait, but we got a diagnosis of AS based on the AS (with all other assessments, reports taken into account also).

 

Each ADOS is probably different and I'm sure some parents won't have had a diagnosis on the day.

 

Best wishes

 

Caroline

[shamu]

Thanks Caroline

I can't see DS lasting 2 hours He barely lasts 10 minutes at the moment ......

He's had several professionals observing him today and yesterday so this is a big week for him (and from what my childminder was saying today he's worked out something's going on....)

Shamu

[Flora]

The ADOS assessment can take anything from 30 mins onwards, depending on the age and cooperation of the child. With an older child I know they give them some props and ask them to make up a story with prompts. They look very specifically for eye contact and body language. They will ask the child to describe something like cleaning their teeth using actions and verbal descriptions. They also talk to the child about their thoughts and feelings on friends and social interaction etc.

 

Obviously it depends on the child's age and ability to communicate and cooperate, but there is nothing to worry about.

 

Personally I find the ADOS assessment too prescriptive. For example if the child is able to demonstrate abilities with imagination or eye contact then they fall out of the criteria for and ASD, but obviously it depends on the assessers.

 

Flora X

[carrieq]

Your son will have a different ADOS as he falls into the younger band. I was allowed to be in the room but not allowed to interupt, make comment etc. DH was watching in the video room. The test was carried out by 2 consultant psychiatrists. Ds spent a good percentage of the time sitting on his head. Watching the test was quite eye opening as you could see quite clearly where the differences between him and others were so it was useful but difficult at the same time.

 

Dh had picked up a copy of an ADOS for a younger child while he was a paed in community but I can't put my hands on it at the moment. The bit I remember wa about play with bubbles and it was quite play orientated not asking for too many verbal responses whereas the one ds had did ask for him to express opinions.

 

We got the results just over a week later.

 

Good luck for tomorrow!!

 

Carrie

[shamu]

Thanks Carrie and Flora

I think I'll get DH to sit in the other room with the baby unless the psychotherapist and paed want it the other way round (they may think with my inside knowledge I'll skew the results whereas DH isn't medical).

Am dreading it as well as hoping it clarifies things too if that makes sense....

Shamu

[cmuir]

Hi Shamu

 

Try not to worry too much about it (easier said than done). I know I was worried prior to ADOS that my son wouldn't cooperate, etc. I was told it doesn't matter. How my son presents himself contributed towards his diagnosis. They'll be looking for a whole host of things.

 

I took my son's care worker (social worker) for moral support, but also in case it was felt best for me not to be present, for the same reasons you stated. I'm glad I did because they asked if R would go on his own. I didn't think he would and asked if his CW could go with him. They were happy to do that because they know any contribution would be unbiased. That said, even if you are present, they'll see for themselves!!!

 

Best wishes

 

Caroline

Edited December 13, 2006 by cmuir

[shamu]

Thanks all

It went as well as it could have although there was a horrible moment where he got a bit distressed and I thought it was going to be abandoned (no one heard him asking for water and of course he didn't keep asking or go to find daddy......) I was watching behind the one way mirror and DH was with him.

Feel a bit lost now - we won't hear any more until our care plan meeting in January - 4 very long weeks..... It's a bit of a no mans land at the moment..... All I want is to get on and help him and it feels like we've been abandoned until then

Oh well

Shamu

[cmuir]

Hi Shamu

 

I recall having to wait 10 days for the results and those 10 days were sheer hell. I couldn't think about anything other than getting a diagnosis (and what if we didn't?!). On the day, when we were told, I started crying. Just couldn't control myself. I felt a combination of emotions, biggest one being relief.

 

It's going to be tough, but hang in there. Hopefully you'll get the results you're looking for! I ain't going to lie and tell you that time will fly because it won't seem like it, but try and keep yourself busy.

 

Caroline.