Which assessment tool is commonly used in autism services?

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is recognized as a fundamental tool used in autism services due to its structured approach in assessing individuals for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It is a standardized diagnostic instrument that provides a comprehensive framework for observing behaviors associated with autism.

ADOS consists of various activities that encourage the individual to demonstrate social interaction, communication, and imaginative play, which are critical areas affected in autism. The results from this assessment help clinicians determine the presence or absence of autism symptoms by analyzing the individual's performance during these activities.

This makes ADOS particularly valuable for its ability to yield observable data about a person's social communication skills and behaviors, providing insight that is crucial for diagnosis and intervention planning. In contrast, while other assessment tools listed may have their place in evaluating different behavioral or adaptive functioning aspects, they are not specifically designed to focus on autism diagnostics in the same structured way ADOS is.