ADOS -2: Social Overtures Vs Social Responses
Taken from the ADOS-2 Manual
Social Overture
Social overture can be thought of as a
behaviour initiated by the examinee
that is directed to another person for
the purpose of communicating social
intent.
Social overtures may vary in quality, from
high-quality overtures in which a number of
forms of communication are combined with
obvious and appropriate social intent to
those of lesser quality (e.g. looking at the
construction task silently with his palm out
for more block).
Social Response
Social responses are behaviours that
are in responses to another person’s
actions or to the social situation.
Can be subtle/overt,
appropriate/inappropriate.
In order to be counted as a social overture
the child’s action must be purposely
directed toward the examiner. (e.g.
throwing a toy at the examiner is an action
directed at the examiner, unless it was an
attempted to get the examiners attention,
and this a poor quality overture, it would
not be considered an overture.
Subtle overtures: e.g. making eye contact
to “check in” with the examiner during play
Overt: e.g. Looking at the examiner while
handing her a toy saying “now it’s your
turn”.
“Quality of social overtures”
Focus on the quality not the quantity –
consider the overtures made, Credit should
not be taken away if the child fails to make
an overture in a certain situation (e.g.
requesting more blocks).
Quality should be rated without regard to
whether overtures occurred in expected
situations.
Examples of social overtures and responses!
Eye contact
Directing facial expressions
Touching
Addressing verbally
Regional Autism Team: Cork/Kerry
“Quality of Social Responses”
The absence of any response when a
response is expected and socially
appropriate is taken into account.
A non-response in a situation that would
normally require a response is counted as a
poor response.
Responses to the social situation in general
is also considered in this item- e.g. child
spitting his gum into the table