Brief Report: Calculation and Convergent and Divergent Validity of a New ADOS-2 Expressive Language Score.

The study did not include a comprehensive language evaluation or natural speech samples, so it cannot show how the score performs in full speech-language assessment. The ADOS-2 expressive language score should not replace a full language assessment, especially for diagnosis. The sample was 82.1% male and 81.1% Caucasian, so results may not represent girls, boys from other racial or ethnic groups, or families from other backgrounds. No children were administered ADOS-2 Module 4, so the score was not tested in that group. Only 103 children completed the parent report of words produced, so evidence for that comparison is narrower than for the whole sample. Clinicians rated verbal communication using all available information, including ADOS-2 performance, so the clinician rating was not fully independent of the new score. The score may be less sensitive for older children or children with complex speech because the ADOS-2 gives fewer expressive language distinctions in later modules. The study did not test children without autism or children with other developmental disorders.

Do not use this score as a stand-alone speech-language evaluation. It is a brief descriptive score, and the paper states it should not replace a comprehensive language assessment, especially during diagnosis.