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Autism assessment - ADOS Module 4

Jenny Butterfly

I recently went through the ADOS module 4 autism assessment and am wondering what they were looking for.  It involved some story telling (around pictures of flying frogs and some objects to bring in to another story), looking at and talking about a kind of child's map and explaining how to brush your teeth.  The thing is, I'm 55 and can, I think do these things rather well.  I'm perfectly used to making up bedtime stories to children and explaining everyday tasks.  I also have a great deal of experience of masking and surviving in the workplace and I'm fairly sure my responses to these questions and tasks would have look at whole lot more autistic when I was in my teens before I developed a whole rake of coping strategies.  I'm the same person, however.  Can I be confident that the assessment result can be reliable? 

Parents

  • Hi, I had exactly the same tasks for my assessment last November.  I have been a teacher for 20 years and had read the book many times with voices and gestures and am also pretty good at explaining things and talking about pictures, so that was the only part of the assessment where I felt comfortable because I switched into teacher mode.  I didn't realise what they were looking for, in fact I only found out after reading the links in your replies so thanks, that was interesting.  I just did my best story telling and explaining!   I got my diagnosis soon after.  Don't worry, that story must be only a small part of it, if your assessment is like mine you will have already filled out endless questionnaire and had to answer many many personal questions and they will have been watching and listening to everything you said, how you said and what you were doing.  I hope you get the answer you are hoping for because going through the assessment is hard enough without having to worry about it after.

  • in reply to Komaneko

    Yes, I do feel worried that I might not meet the criteria for a diagnosis because then I will have drawn a blank.  I am kind of looking at autism as a kind of unifying theory of why I am the way I am and feel the way I do. Moreover it would explain a lot of experiences and issues within my family.  So, if I'm not diagnosed, I won't know where to turn really.  

    You're right though, the flying frogs were just one small part of the test so maybe it'll turn out OK and I'll get the result (and the validation) I'm seeking.

    Then I might reflect some more on how I survived as an accountant and then a counsellor for so long.

Reply
  • in reply to Komaneko

    Yes, I do feel worried that I might not meet the criteria for a diagnosis because then I will have drawn a blank.  I am kind of looking at autism as a kind of unifying theory of why I am the way I am and feel the way I do. Moreover it would explain a lot of experiences and issues within my family.  So, if I'm not diagnosed, I won't know where to turn really.  

    You're right though, the flying frogs were just one small part of the test so maybe it'll turn out OK and I'll get the result (and the validation) I'm seeking.

    Then I might reflect some more on how I survived as an accountant and then a counsellor for so long.

Children
  • in reply to Silverdale

    Just as an afterthought, was the report broken down into different areas?  I'm just wondering what I can expect to see covered in it.  Also I have the feeling that, if they don't adopt the same approach in my area, I will need to go into the last appointment armed with questions.

  • in reply to Silverdale

    Wow!  Now that's what I call a decent report!  I can only hope for something half that good.

  • in reply to Jenny Butterfly

    The draft report was 25 pages long!! But apparently it contains a summary at the beginning which is designed to be shared with my employer etc if I want to. So they don't have to read the whole thing! 

  • in reply to Silverdale

    This sounds excellent.  Particularly if you're getting a proper report at the end of it.  I think I'd be pleased to get that too.

  • in reply to Jenny Butterfly

    I had my feedback meeting today. I am now officially diagnosed :-) 

    It was a very good meeting that lasted nearly 2 hours. The psychologist went through all the assessments I had done and described how the team came to their conclusions. She answered all our questions and made some adjustments to the draft report. We talked about what happens now and what support I might need or want. The report will be finished by the end of the week and will contain a list of rwcommended reading. 

    I'm very pleased. 

  • in reply to Cassandro

    Yes, I am hoping that the feedback interview will offer some explanation plus maybe ideas for books and other resources.  Not sure how realistic I'm being though.  Hope you get the result you want, Silverdale.

  • in reply to Silverdale

    Let us know how it goes.

  • in reply to Jenny Butterfly
    Jenny Butterfly said:
    I am kind of looking at autism as a kind of unifying theory of why I am the way I am and feel the way I do. Moreover it would explain a lot of experiences and issues within my family.  So, if I'm not diagnosed, I won't know where to turn really

    I feel exactly like this. I have my feedback appointment to receive my results this morning and I'm so worried they will say I don't have autism.