Investigating the Clinical Utility of the Oxford Virtual Autism Assessment Tool (OVAAT)

Background and study aims:

Standardised tools (i.e. tools that have been formally researched/evaluated) are a key part of ASD assessments. Some young people prefer online to face-to-face assessments. Recent research indicates that some young people with ASD show fewer observable features/symptoms of ASD but describe internal features/symptoms of ASD. At present, there is (a) no standardised virtual/online assessment tool and (b) no standardised tool which balances gathering information about observable features of ASD and self-reported features of ASD. This study will begin the process of scientifically evaluating the OVAAT (a video-based tool assessing both observable and self-reported features of ASD).

Who can participate? The study will have two groups: group 1 will be 13-18 year old young people waiting for an autism assessment in the Oxfordshire CAMHS Neurodevelopmental Conditions (NDC) pathway who have access to and are able to use a laptop or desktop computer and a quiet place to complete the assessment. Group 2 will be 13-18 year old young people with no neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions who have access to and are able to use a laptop or desktop computer and a quiet place to complete the assessment.

What does the study involve? Group 1: Participants will complete the OVAAT and an ADOS-2 assessment. The OVAAT is the tool that is being tested. The ADOS-2 is an existing tool that is used to assess autism and participants would complete this as part of the standard assessment. The OVAAT assessment will be video and audio recorded (through Microsoft Teams) so that the investigators can check whether another clinical researcher comes to the same conclusion as the person providing the OVAAT. The investigators will only keep the recording until the second researcher has watched and listened to the recording.

Group 2: Participants will complete some questionnaires that identify potential features of autism, ADHD and common mental health problems. Participants will also meet with a clinical researcher from the NDC team to complete the OVAAT. The OVAAT assessment will be video and audio recorded (through Microsoft Teams) so that the investigators can check whether another clinical researcher comes to the same conclusion as the person providing the OVAAT. The recordings will only be kept until the second researcher has watched and listened to the recording.