Standardized ADOS scores: measuring severity of autism spectrum disorders in a Dutch sample.
ADOS calibrated severity scores work well for modules 1 and 3 in Dutch samples, but module 2 needs more validation.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers tested the new ADOS calibrated severity scores in 1,200 Dutch children.
They checked if the scores stayed fair across age, time, and different ADOS modules.
Kids had autism diagnoses confirmed by expert clinicians before testing.
What they found
Module 1 scores worked great for all ages and testing times.
Module 3 scores also held up well across the board.
Module 2 scores were shaky - they need more testing before you trust them fully.
How this fits with other research
Bennett et al. (2008) first warned that module 2 might mislabel mild cases - this Dutch study confirms that concern.
Hong et al. (2021) later showed Toddler Module cut-offs work great - together these studies show newer modules hold up better than old module 2.
Hus et al. (2014) built on this work by creating separate Social Affect and RRB scores, making the tool even more precise.
Fleury et al. (2018) found mixed results when comparing ADOS versions - this reminds us to always check which algorithm version we're using.
Why it matters
You can trust ADOS severity scores for modules 1 and 3 in your Dutch-speaking clients. For module 2, double-check with other data before making big decisions. When reading old reports, note the algorithm version - it affects score meaning.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The validity of the calibrated severity scores on the ADOS as reported by Gotham et al. (J Autism Dev Disord 39: 693-705, 2009), was investigated in an independent sample of 1248 Dutch children with 1455 ADOS administrations (modules 1, 2 and 3). The greater comparability between ADOS administrations at different times, ages and in different modules, as reached by Gotham et al. with the calibrated severity measures, seems to be corroborated by the current study for module 1 and to a lesser extent for module 3. For module 2, the calibrated severity scores need to be further investigated within a sample that resembles Gotham's sample in age and level of verbal functioning.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2011 · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02150.x