Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2nd Edition [32 ] is a standardized semi-structured interview recommended for the assessment of ASD, generally lasting from 30 to 60 min. It includes a range of questions and activities designed to evoke behaviors and cognitions associated with ASD. These visible behaviors and discussions are then scored from 0 to 3 for “autism severity”. Under the original algorithm, 11 items from the larger scoring matrix are then summed to create an ADOS score, where 7 is the cut-off for being designated as “on the autism spectrum,” and 10 is the cut-off for being designated as “autistic.” The algorithm has two subscales: social affect and restrictive and repetitive behaviors, and total scores of 8 or more indicate possible ASD.