Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R)

The Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) is a semi-structured diagnostic interview used with parents or caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It can be used to assess both children and adults.

Features of the ADI-R

The ADI-R assesses 4 specific domains:

Ψ 3 functional domains:

Language or Communication

Reciprocal Social Interactions
Repetitive, Restricted and Stereotyped Behaviours and Interests

Ψ 1 diagnostic domain:

Presence of Abnormality of Development Evident At or Before 36 months

For ASD, one criteria is that symptoms should appear early in development, so information obtained in the 4th domain will indicate if the individual satisfies this criteria for ASD. General behavioural problems and clinically relevant behaviours (e.g aggression, self-injury) are assessed as well.

How the ADI-R Informs a Diagnosis

Detailed descriptions of a child’s history and behaviours is useful for planning management plans and distinguishing ASD from other developmental disorders. However, considering that the ADI-R is an interview and aids in forming a picture of an individual’s history and current functioning, it cannot be solely used to make a clinical diagnosis on whether an individual has ASD or not.

Where an official ASD diagnosis is sought, we use the ADI-R in tandem with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd edition (ADOS-2). The combination of ADI-R and ADOS-2 allows for a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of your family member’s condition and what can be done to best support them in future.