What does ADI mean in RESEARCH

The Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI) is a semi-structured clinical interview used to help healthcare professionals diagnose autism spectrum disorder. It is one of the main diagnostic tools used by clinicians, researchers and health institutions around the world.

The ADI is administered by a trained clinician such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. It takes several hours to complete and requires extensive knowledge of both the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder and the individual being assessed.

The ADI consists of two main parts - an interview with an individual's parent or guardian about their development, behavior, functioning and communication skills from birth until present day, as well as directly observing the individual in question during a structured activities session. This allows clinicians to gain an understanding of how their patient presents behaviorally and emotionally in different situations and circumstances.

During an ADI evaluation, questions may be asked pertaining to topics such as early interactions between infant/child and primary caregivers, development milestones, speech and language development, signs of sensory processing difficulties or repetitive behaviors, history of tantrums or difficult behaviors, imagination level, ability to participate in cooperative play with peers among many other items.

An ADI assessment can be beneficial for children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or those who show signs that they may have it. It can also be helpful for individuals who are seeking more information regarding their own individual characteristics on the autism spectrum so they can better understand how this affects their functioning in daily life tasks.

A common misconception about autistic people determined through ADIs is that they cannot think logically or make connections between ideas or events due to their difficulty communicating verbally. Actually, many autistic individuals think deeply, analytically and critically about things just like any neurotypical person would.

Not necessarily; though it is definitely recommended for individuals seeking a diagnosis from healthcare professionals or those who want further insight into how they function on a day-to-day basis. An ADI can provide important data points that aid in assessing whether someone has ASD.

To get accurate results from your child’s assessment it's important to prepare ahead by providing relevant background information such as medical records including current lab tests (if applicable), developmental histories and recent evaluations from other specialists such as speech therapists or occupational therapists that may have interacted with your child already.