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The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule is a standardized diagnostic test for diagnosing and assessing autism. It is considered to be a "gold standard" in diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The protocol consists of a series of structured and semi-structured tasks, that involve social interaction between the examiner and the person under assessment. The examiner observes and identifies segments of the subject's behavior, and assigns these to predetermined observational categories. Categorized observations are subsequently combined to produce quantitative scores for analysis. Research-determined cut-offs identify the potential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, allowing a standardized assessment of autistic symptoms.
The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised , a companion instrument, is a structured interview conducted with the parents of the referred individual, and covers the subject's full developmental history.