Autism Assessments (ADOS-2)
Wondering if your child might be on the autism spectrum can be overwhelming for any parent – but you don’t have to navigate it alone. We offer Autism Assessments using the ADOS-2 at Polkadot Sparrow, providing a thorough, play-based evaluation by qualified professionals. The ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition) is considered a gold-standard tool worldwide for assessing Autism Spectrum Disorder. Our goal is to make the assessment process informative, gentle, and supportive, so you get clear answers about your child’s development and guidance on the road ahead.
Who It’s For
: This service is for children (toddler age and up) and adolescents for whom autism is a question. Maybe your pediatrician or teacher has suggested an evaluation due to certain behaviors, or you as a parent have noticed signs such as limited eye contact, delayed language, repetitive behaviors, intense interests, or difficulties with social interaction. The ADOS-2 can be administered across a wide age range (from around 1-year-old up through teenage years and even adulthood, with different modules). We at Polkadot Sparrow typically see young children (2–7 years old) for initial autism evaluations, but we can also assess older kids who have subtler social difficulties or were never formally diagnosed. You do not need a formal referral to access an autism assessment with us, although we often work in conjunction with pediatricians, neurologists, or psychologists as part of a comprehensive diagnostic process. If you’re asking questions like “Does my child have autism?” or “Why is my child not socializing like other kids?”, an ADOS-2 assessment can be very helpful in providing clarity.
What to Expect
An ADOS-2 assessment at our clinic feels a lot like a structured play session. One of our clinicians who is trained and certified in ADOS administration will work one-on-one with your child, engaging them in a series of activities, games, and conversations designed to bring out behaviors that are relevant to autism diagnosis. For a young child, this might include playing with bubbles, pretend play with a toy kitchen or birthday party set, looking at picture books, or responding to their attempts to get your attention. For slightly older children, it might involve telling a story from pictures, doing some problem-solving tasks, or having a chat about their interests. The setting is informal and child-friendly – we have a room with floor toys and child-sized table and chairs. The session usually lasts around 30-60 minutes depending on the module used, and we often have another professional observing or video recording (with your permission) so we can accurately score the behaviors later. Parents may be asked to observe quietly or sometimes to wait in an adjacent room for the standardized part of the ADOS, because we want to see how the child engages with the examiner in a social context. However, we always gather parental input as well – typically, before or after the ADOS play session, we’ll conduct a thorough parent interview about your child’s developmental history, your observations at home, and any concerns (this might be done using a questionnaire or a conversation format, often covering areas like communication milestones, social habits, and any repetitive behaviors or sensitivities). We might also request any previous reports or feedback from teachers. Our approach is very much team-based – we view parents as the experts on their own child, and the ADOS is one important piece of the puzzle. During the ADOS activities, don’t worry if your child doesn’t do something “correctly” or if they have a meltdown; our examiners are experienced in working with children of all behaviors and will adapt to keep the session as comfortable as possible. We might not provide immediate results on the spot, because scoring the ADOS and interpreting it in context takes some time.
How It Helps
After the evaluation, we schedule a follow-up feedback session (often within a week or two) to discuss the results with you. You will receive a report that explains what we observed during the ADOS-2 and how it maps onto the criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder. If your child meets the criteria for autism, we will explain that openly and compassionately, ensuring you understand what that means – and importantly, what the next steps are. If the results are not clear-cut or indicate that autism is unlikely, we’ll discuss other potential explanations or recommendations for further assessment if needed (sometimes children have other communication or developmental disorders that can look similar, and we might refer you to, say, a speech therapist or child psychologist). Regardless of the outcome, we spend time to answer all your questions – for instance, “What does an autism diagnosis mean for my child’s future? What therapies can help? Should we tell the school?” We’ll guide you on available resources: early intervention services, schooling options, speech or occupational therapy (of course, we provide OT for many autistic children focusing on sensory and daily living skills), and parent support networks in the Durban area. Many parents feel a sense of relief after getting an expert evaluation – finally they have a name for the challenges and a plan to move forward. Our aim is that you leave with clarity and a roadmap: perhaps enrolling in an early intervention program, or starting OT for sensory and social skills, or simply knowing how to better support your child’s communication at home. We also emphasize the positive: every child has strengths, and we highlight what your child did well during the assessment too. If the word “autism” feels overwhelming, remember that it doesn’t change who your child is – it just helps us understand them better. Our team is here to support your family beyond the assessment as well; we often continue working with children on the spectrum for therapy, and we’re available to consult with schools or other providers as needed. In summary, an ADOS-2 autism assessment with Polkadot Sparrow gives you expert insight into your child’s social and communication development, delivered with the sensitivity and support you deserve, so you can take the next steps with confidence.