The Pre-linguistic Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 1995 Aug 1

PMID 7592249

Citations 118

Authors

P C DiLavore

C Lord

M Rutter

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The Pre-Linguistic Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (PL-ADOS) is a semistructured observation scale designed for use as a diagnostic tool for children less than 6 years old who are not yet using phrase speech and are suspected of having autism. The PL-ADOS takes approximately 30 minutes to administer and is appropriate for use with this population because of its emphasis on playful interactions and the use of toys designed for young children. Reliability studies indicated that both individual activity ratings and summary ratings could be reliably scored from videotaped assessments by naive raters. Additionally, PL-ADOS scores of nonverbal preschool-aged children referred for clinical diagnosis and classified on the basis of a diagnostic team's clinical judgment, clearly discriminated between autistic and nonautistic developmentally disabled children. The resulting diagnostic algorithm is theoretically linked to diagnostic constructs associated with ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria for autism.

Citing Articles

Autism spectrum disorder and 3p24.3p23 triplication: a case report.

Siracusano M, Stellato M, Carloni E, Miccolo G, Riccioni A, Moavero R J Med Case Rep. 2025; 19(1):106.

PMID: 40065383 PMC: 11895343. DOI: 10.1186/s13256-025-05124-2.

Differences in regional brain structure in toddlers with autism are related to future language outcomes.

Duan K, Eyler L, Pierce K, Lombardo M, Datko M, Hagler D Nat Commun. 2024; 15(1):5075.

PMID: 38871689 PMC: 11176156. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48952-4.

Exploring early life social and executive function development in infants and risk for autism: a prospective cohort study protocol of NICU graduates and infants at risk for cerebral palsy.

Boulton K, Lee D, Honan I, Phillips N, Morgan C, Crowle C BMC Psychiatry. 2024; 24(1):359.

PMID: 38745143 PMC: 11092236. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05779-z.

Neurochemical differences in core regions of the autistic brain: a multivoxel H-MRS study in children.

Dionisio A, Espirito A, Pereira A, Mouga S, dAlmeida O, Oliveira G Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):2374.

PMID: 38287121 PMC: 10824733. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52279-x.

Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Yu Y, Ozonoff S, Miller M Assessment. 2023; 31(1):24-41.

PMID: 37248660 PMC: 10676043. DOI: 10.1177/10731911231173089.

References

Cicchetti D, Sparrow S . Developing criteria for establishing interrater reliability of specific items: applications to assessment of adaptive behavior. Am J Ment Defic. 1981; 86(2):127-37. View

Thal D, Bates E, Bellugi U . Language and cognition in two children with Williams syndrome. J Speech Hear Res. 1989; 32(3):489-500. DOI: 10.1044/jshr.3203.489. View

Wetherby A, Prutting C . Profiles of communicative and cognitive-social abilities in autistic children. J Speech Hear Res. 1984; 27(3):364-77. DOI: 10.1044/jshr.2703.364. View

SIGMAN M, Kasari C, Kwon J, Yirmiya N . Responses to the negative emotions of others by autistic, mentally retarded, and normal children. Child Dev. 1992; 63(4):796-807. View

Sigman M, Mundy P, Sherman T, Ungerer J . Social interactions of autistic, mentally retarded and normal children and their caregivers. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1986; 27(5):647-55. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1986.tb00189.x. View

Ungerer J, Sigman M . Symbolic play and language comprehension in autistic children. J Am Acad Child Psychiatry. 1981; 20(2):318-37. DOI: 10.1016/s0002-7138(09)60992-4. View

Sigman M, Ungerer J . Attachment behaviors in autistic children. J Autism Dev Disord. 1984; 14(3):231-44. DOI: 10.1007/BF02409576. View

Lord C . Methods and measures of behavior in the diagnosis of autism and related disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 1991; 14(1):69-80. View

Baron-Cohen S, Allen J, Gillberg C . Can autism be detected at 18 months? The needle, the haystack, and the CHAT. Br J Psychiatry. 1992; 161:839-43. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.161.6.839. View

10.

Stone W, Hogan K . A structured parent interview for identifying young children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 1993; 23(4):639-52. DOI: 10.1007/BF01046106. View

11.

Mundy P, Sigman M, Ungerer J, Sherman T . Defining the social deficits of autism: the contribution of non-verbal communication measures. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1986; 27(5):657-69. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1986.tb00190.x. View

12.

Lord C, Rutter M, Goode S, Heemsbergen J, Jordan H, Mawhood L . Autism diagnostic observation schedule: a standardized observation of communicative and social behavior. J Autism Dev Disord. 1989; 19(2):185-212. DOI: 10.1007/BF02211841. View

13.

Sigman M, Mundy P . Social attachments in autistic children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1989; 28(1):74-81. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-198901000-00014. View

14.

Gillberg C, Ehlers S, Schaumann H, Jakobsson G, Dahlgren S, Lindblom R . Autism under age 3 years: a clinical study of 28 cases referred for autistic symptoms in infancy. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1990; 31(6):921-34. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1990.tb00834.x. View

15.

Lord C, Rutter M, Le Couteur A . Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised: a revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 1994; 24(5):659-85. DOI: 10.1007/BF02172145. View

16.

Dawson G, Adams A . Imitation and social responsiveness in autistic children. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1984; 12(2):209-25. DOI: 10.1007/BF00910664. View

17.

Le Couteur A, Rutter M, Lord C, Rios P, Robertson S, Holdgrafer M . Autism diagnostic interview: a standardized investigator-based instrument. J Autism Dev Disord. 1989; 19(3):363-87. DOI: 10.1007/BF02212936. View

18.

Loveland K, Landry S . Joint attention and language in autism and developmental language delay. J Autism Dev Disord. 1986; 16(3):335-49. DOI: 10.1007/BF01531663. View

19.

Rogers S, Ozonoff S . A comparative study of attachment behavior in young children with autism or other psychiatric disorders. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1991; 30(3):483-8. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-199105000-00021. View