The ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) is one of the gold-standard tools used in the assessment of autism. It is a structured but relaxed observation — not a test your child can pass or fail — in which the clinician spends time with your child in a series of carefully designed activities and conversations.

The activities are chosen to gently draw out the kinds of social interaction and communication that are most relevant to an autism assessment: how your child initiates conversation, responds to others, uses gesture and eye contact, engages in imaginative play, and navigates the natural flow of a two-way exchange. Different versions of the ADOS are used depending on your child's age and language level, so the session is always appropriate for where your child is developmentally.

For younger children it can feel much like play. For older children and teenagers it tends to feel more like a relaxed conversation with an unfamiliar adult.

The observation is conducted by a qualified Speech and Language or Occupational Therapist and typically lasts between 40 minutes and one hour. Parents are usually present at the start and may be asked to step out briefly during part of the session — this is entirely normal and helps the clinician see how your child interacts with an unfamiliar adult independently.

The ADOS is always used alongside the ADI-R parent interview and information from school. No single tool is used in isolation — it is the combination of all sources of information that leads to a clinical conclusion.