Do you think someone you know may be autistic?
Autism spectrum disorder, often just called autism, is typically diagnosed in younger children at 9, 18, and 30 months during well-child visits. But autism can be diagnosed in older children, adolescents, and adults.
We created this brief test to help you determine if someone you know — a friend, partner, spouse, or other loved one — may benefit from being screened or evaluated for autism.
This test will help measure if they have any autism-related traits based on your observations or their own self-assessment.
If you think someone you know may be autistic, consider talking with them about getting evaluated by a doctor or autism specialist, who can use a variety of screening tools and clinical observations to make an accurate diagnosis.
If you think some of these questions describe how you feel and behave, consider reaching out to your physician or family doctor who can refer you to a specialist for an evaluation, if needed.
Instructions
We created this screening tool to help you figure out if someone you know may benefit from being evaluated for autism by a healthcare professional or specialist.
Please take your time filling out the form as accurately, honestly, and completely as possible. All responses are confidential.
Please choose one of the following alternatives:
- This is true or describes the person now and when they were younger.
- This was true or describes the person only now.
- This was true only when the person was younger (16 years or younger).
- This was never true and never described the person.
When talking to someone, they have a hard time figuring out what that person is thinking or feeling.
Certain textures and fabrics that don't bother me or other people can sometimes bother them and feel offensive on their skin.
They have trouble working with others in group activities.
They have a hard time figuring out what others expect of them.
When hanging out socially, they don't know how to act.
They have no problem with social interactions.
Sometimes when they get overwhelmed by senses — sights, sounds, or even smells — they have to go into a quiet room alone to shut those senses down.
They prefer to be alone, instead of being out in social situations.
When we're talking or they're talking to someone else, they have a hard time figuring out when it's time to speak or time to listen.
If I'm vacuuming or people are talking too loud, they often cover their ears to block out the noises.
It's hard for them to read someone else's facial expressions and body language when they're talking to them.
They tend to focus more on the small details rather than the big picture.
At times, they take what someone says too literally, often missing what the person really means.
If they suddenly have to do things a new way, they get really upset.
They prefer a routine, have a hard time with change, and may seem inflexible at times.
They have a strong interest in a certain topic or object, often wanting to talk about it and having difficulty talking about anything else.
They sometimes rock back and forth, move their hands in a repetitive way, or other similar behaviors.
As a child, they lined up toys or played with objects in the same way over and over again.
At times, they repeat the same words or phrases over and over again, or they repeat phrases of others.
This online screening is not a diagnostic tool. Only a trained medical professional, like a doctor or mental health professional, can help you determine the next best steps for you.
This quiz can’t replace a clinical diagnosis. If you believe someone you know might have autism spectrum disorder or another condition after taking this test, consider reaching out to a qualified professional.
Want to know more? You can take a deeper dive into how autism is diagnosed here.