The ADOS-2

The ADOS-2 is conducted by doctorate-level, licensed psychologists. In some cases, our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) lead the assessment. Our teammates receive ongoing training to maintain their clinical skills, and many of our clinicians have completed advanced research and training under certified ADOS-2 trainers.

The clinician selects an appropriate ADOS-2 module based on the child’s age and developmental level. During the 40–60 minute assessment, the clinician uses toys and semi-structured activities to naturally observe how the child plays, communicates, and socializes.

As the teammate plays with your child, they are evaluating the following areas of their development: 

• Language
• Communication
• Social skills and responses 
• Play skills 
• Repetitive behaviors

After the assessment, the teammate calculates a score based on how the child’s behaviors align with autism signs. When the results are ready, usually within one week, we schedule a time to review everything with families and discuss the next steps.

The ADOS-2 is a great tool for seeing if someone might have autism, but it does not officially diagnose it. Instead, it is part of a comprehensive evaluation that considers multiple areas of a child’s life. The results from the ADOS-2 need to be examined by a clinician who can make the final diagnosis. A provider might also gather the following information to make an autism diagnosis:

• Interviews from parents, guardians, and people who know the child best.
• A detailed medical history to see if the child’s behavior could be attributed to any other conditions.
• School reports and teacher feedback to provide perspective on how the child functions in an educational setting, which can be different from home.

The ADOS-2 score, along with a summary of the assessment, is sent to your child’s doctor, neurologist, or developmental pediatrician for review. They can use the information from the ADOS-2 to diagnose autism spectrum disorder. Once your child receives an autism diagnosis, we can schedule them for applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy at one of our centers.

We provide the ADOS-2 as a no-cost service to the community. Once a child completes the ADOS-2 and receives an autism diagnosis from their doctor, they can begin receiving helpful services like ABA therapy. Most insurances cover ABA therapy, and Action Behavior is in-network with most major plans. Our insurance specialists work directly with your insurance company to verify benefits on your behalf, so you don’t have to. This allows you to focus on what truly matters—supporting your child.