Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum, 2nd Edition (MIGDAS-2)

Purpose: Provides an efficient method of systematically gathering and organising the information needed to diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, adolescents, and adults

Age: Toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults

Time: 30 to 90 minutes, depending on format

The Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum, 2nd Edition (MIGDAS-2) is a sensory-based process for gathering and organising the qualitative information needed to diagnose autism in children, adolescents, and adults.

The process includes guidelines for gathering information from parents/caregivers and teachers, and for conducting a sensory-based interview with the individual being evaluated. The end result is a comprehensive behavioral profile that describes the individual’s distinct way of relating to the world, supplementing assessment scores and informing diagnosis and treatment planning.

The MIGDAS-2 process is designed to facilitate writing a narrative evaluation report and providing diagnostic feedback using language that is easily understood by parents and others involved in the individual’s care.

Key Features

• Interactive interview techniques: The MIGDAS-2 provides detailed, concrete guidelines for conducting interactive diagnostic interviews with children, adolescents, and adults suspected of having ASD.
• Parent/caregiver and teacher participation: The MIGDAS-2 provides structured guidelines for obtaining key information from parents/caregivers and teachers about the individual’s behavior in home and school settings.
• Comprehensive qualitative information: The MIGDAS-2 is a unique evaluation tool that guides the evaluator to make a diagnosis based on direct interactions with the individual being evaluated and the individual’s parents/caregivers and teachers.
• Sensory-based approach: Emphasising the use of sensory materials and encouraging discussion of areas of high interest to the individual, the MIGDAS-2 process provides a system for evaluators to gather distinctive examples of behavior patterns often seen in individuals with ASD.

Because the MIGDAS-2 process integrates the multiple sources of information that must be considered when diagnosing ASD, it helps those involved in the evaluation process better understand the way in which autism spectrum differences specifically affect the individual being evaluated.

The sensory-based diagnostic interview allows for an authentic assessment experience for the child, adolescent, or adult being evaluated. The qualitative behavioral profile obtained through use of the MIGDAS-2 also assists evaluators when considering comorbidity and making differential diagnoses, writing narrative evaluation reports, and providing diagnostic feedback to participants in the evaluation process.

The MIGDAS-2 includes five evaluation protocols: Parent/Caregiver Questionnaire, Teacher Questionnaire, Diagnostic Interview for Individuals With Limited to No Verbal Fluency, Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents With Verbal Fluency, and Diagnostic Interview for Adults With Verbal Fluency.

The MIGDAS-2 interviews require the use of common, sensory-based toys and materials (not included in the Kit purchase). The use of these materials and suggestions for building a sensory-based materials kit are described in the MIGDAS-2 Manual.