Diagnosis
Due to the fact that there are no medical tests that allow diagnosis of Autism, it is most often diagnosed by trained psychologists and physicians administering different tests (Autism Speaks). The criteria used for diagnosis by the APA (2010) "focus on communication skills, social interactions, and repetitive and stereotypical patterns of behavior" (Hallahan 242).
There are two methods that collaborate together to reach diagnosis, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) & the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), as well as a third method that sets specific criteria for diagnosis derived from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
There are two methods that collaborate together to reach diagnosis, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) & the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), as well as a third method that sets specific criteria for diagnosis derived from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)
This module involves observing the child in different semi-structured activities (Hallahan 242), including 4 modules, each taking roughly 35-40 minutes to complete. After module is chosen and activities are done, scores are evaluated and a diagnosis is made. Module 1: is used with children who do not consistently use phrase speech
While phases 1 & 2 require the observers and child to move around the room, phases 3 & 4 allow just talking. (Lord et. al.) |
Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)
This model of diagnosis involves differeint interviews of caregivers regarding the "child's functioning in language/communication, reciprocal social interaction, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped behaviors" (Hallahan 242). Questions cover 8 main areas:
(Rutter) DSM-IV (DSM-4) Criteria for a Diagnosis of Autism (See recourses, Autism Speaks) |