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Autism Quiz: Do I Have Autism?

Autism Quiz: Do I Have Autism? | Psych Central

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Medically reviewed by Jeffrey Ditzell, DO — By Christina Ward — Updated on Apr 12, 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the way a person thinks, behaves, and communicates.

While children are typically screened for autism symptoms as early as 18 months, it can be diagnosed later in older children, adolescents, and even adults.

This brief, time-saving test is designed for anyone who thinks they might benefit from an autism screening or evaluation.

The items below will help you determine whether you may need an in-depth evaluation including screening tools, parental or family insight, and clinical observations.

A mental health professional can also help figure out if your symptoms might be a sign of another mental health condition and recommend treatment if needed.

This online screening is not a definitive tool. It will not conclusively guarantee that you have autism.

However, it will measure if you have any autism-related traits, based on your own self-assessment.

Only a trained medical professional, such as a doctor or mental health professional, can help you determine the next best steps for you.

This free autism quiz was adapted from the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) designed to screen for the possibility of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is not a diagnostic tool and should be considered for personal use only. An accurate diagnosis can be made only through a clinical evaluation. If you think you might have ASD, consider speaking with a primary care doctor, psychiatrist or another mental health professional. They can perform a clinical evaluation that includes screening tools, parental or family insight, and clinical observations to arrive at the most accurate diagnosis.

Instructions

The items below refer to your preferences and behaviors over the course of your life. For the results of this quiz to be most accurate, try to be as honest as possible in your responses.

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.

Ready to start therapy? Our Find a Therapist resource may help.

Last medically reviewed on April 11, 2021

5 sourcescollapsed

Baron-Cohen B, et al. (2001). The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians.
link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1005653411471
Barrett SL, et al. (2015). The adult repetitive behaviours questionnaire-2 (RBQ-2A): A self-report measure of restricted and repetitive behaviours.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4608982/
Dell'Osso L, et al. (2017). Adult autism subthreshold spectrum (AdAS Spectrum): Validation of a questionnaire investigating subthreshold autism spectrum.
sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010440X1630339X?via%3Dihub
Erikkson JM, et al. (2013). RAADS-14 Screen: Validity of a screening tool for autism spectrum disorder in an adult psychiatric population.
molecularautism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2040-2392-4-49
Woodbury-Smith MR, et al. (2005). Screening adults for Asperger Syndrome using the AQ: A preliminary study of its diagnostic validity in clinical practice.
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-005-3300-7

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Medically reviewed by Jeffrey Ditzell, DO — By Christina Ward — Updated on Apr 12, 2021

What Are the Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder?
What Disorders Are Related to Autism?
Growing Up Autistic: How Do I Make the Leap to Adulthood?
Asperger’s vs. Autism: What Exactly Is the Difference?
How Is Autism Diagnosed?

Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms: Communication and Behavior Patterns

Signs of autism spectrum disorder include differences in communication and behavioral patterns. But not all autistic folx behave or communicate in the same ways.

For some autistic people, it can feel as if there’s a communication gap between you and allistic (nonautistic) people.

The differences that come with being autistic can bring both unique benefits and challenges.

For example, some autistic people find their ability to hyperfocus allows them to power through work, but small changes in the daily routine impact them much more than they may other people.

Autism symptoms exist on a spectrum, which is why the condition is currently called autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and a reason the causes of autism aren’t well established yet.

Language matters

When it comes to talking about autism, we use identity-first language rather than person-first language. This is why we say “autistic person” rather than “person with autism.”

For many autistic people, this language is preferable because autism is seen as as part of an identity, not a disability.

While autism spectrum disorder is most often diagnosed in childhood, some presentations of autism may not be diagnosed until adulthood.

Autistic adults who are “high functioning,” or who have less noticeable communication and behavioral differences, may experience symptoms like:

anxiety in new or unstructured situations
difficulty decoding what makes sense to say in conversations
stiff or exaggerated body language or hand gestures
the wish to make friends but lack understanding of how to do it

Autistic adults may camouflage their repetitive behaviors when around other people. Suppressing these behaviors, which can be soothing, may lead to autistic burnout for some people.

Do you think you’re autistic but aren’t sure? This autism quiz may help.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR) places autism symptoms into two main categories:

patterns of communication and social interaction
patterns in behavior and interests

Since autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, the first signs tend to appear in early childhood and infancy. Still, some autistic people don’t get a diagnosis until adulthood, especially if they’ve gotten used to masking their differences.

Communication patterns

Autistic people may show different patterns of communication. These patterns may involve verbal or spoken communication and nonverbal communication like facial expressions and body language.

These communication-related autism symptoms impact:

social skills and interaction
nonverbal communication
relationships and social connection

Social skills and interaction

Hand gestures during a conversation and figures of speech can be hard to decode for some autistic people. Still, these communication differences can show up differently from person to person.

For autistic people who need higher levels of support, it can be harder to initiate or respond to social interaction.

While many autistic people speak in full sentences, other people might be nonverbal — meaning they tend not to speak out loud — and communicate in other ways.

Nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication is how people communicate with each other without words. Some autistic people tend to engage in nonverbal communication differently than nonautistic people.

Autistic people might have difficulty with:

eye contact
decoding facial expressions or hand gestures
expressing their thoughts and feelings
matching the facial expressions of behaviors of other people

Relationships and social connection

Autistic folx may find it difficult to connect emotionally with other people, especially nonautistic people.

Difficulties adjusting speech and behavior to match the mood of a conversation might make it harder for some autistic people to start or maintain a relationship, for example.

In autistic children, this can look like not participating in games that involve imagination. Autistic children may also show a lack of interest in making friends, although this is not the case for all autistic people.

Behavioral patterns

Other autism symptoms involve behavioral differences. These differences usually include limited and repetitive behaviors.

These symptoms may include:

stereotyped behaviors (repetitive behavioral patterns)
rigid routines and dislike of change
“narrowed,” or strong and specific focus
differences in responses to surroundings

Stereotyped behaviors

Stereotyped behaviors are behaviors that are repeated over and over but don’t seem to have a clear purpose.

Still, these behaviors do have a purpose. They’re usually a form of self-soothing, also known as stimming.

These behaviors can involve:

hand flapping
finger flicking
coin spinning
lining up objects
other repeated actions

Autistic people might also tend to repeat the speech of other people. This is called echolalia.

Rigid routines and preference for structure

If you’re autistic, you might feel strongly about certain daily routines, habits, or rules.

Changes to these things can also be difficult. A change that seems insignificant to someone else might feel like a big impact for you.

For example, you might have a specific walking route or always eat a certain brand of cereal. If someone tries to change these routines or something happens that makes them impossible, it can bring feelings of instability, feeling lost, or not knowing what to do next.

Narrowed focus, interests, and preoccupations

Autistic people may have a strong focus or “narrow” interest in certain topics or subjects.

For example, an autistic child might prefer to play with a single toy over all other objects. An autistic adult might have an area of interest in a specific topic that they know a lot about.

Hyperfocus on certain activities and restrictive food intake are also common.

Responses to stimuli in the environment

Over- or under-sensitivity to stimuli in the environment is another common behavioral symptom of autism.

Someone with hypersensitivity may react in a way that seems out of proportion to a situation. For instance, an autistic person might cover their ears in a room where multiple people are talking at once.
An autistic person with hyposensitivity might react less strongly to stimulation or sensations. They might not react to pain or changes in temperature, for example.

Some autistic people may also be drawn to certain sensory experiences, including:

textures
smells
tastes
sights
sounds

For example, while one person might repetitively smell or touch an object, another person might fixate on objects of a certain color or texture.

Since autism exists on a spectrum, the level of support needed in day-to-day life varies greatly from autistic person to person.

The DSM-5-TR looks at three levels of needs, which are defined by how much support an autistic person may require.

Requires support. Autistic people at this level may be more independent. Challenges with social interaction, change, or uncertainty may still be hard to manage without some level of support.
Requires substantial support. Some social interaction and change may be manageable for autistic people at this level, but a consistent level of support is necessary.
Requires very substantial support. People in this category may have minimal speech and social interaction. Handling change may be a significant challenge.

Outdated diagnoses

Some diagnoses previously tied to autism spectrum disorder are now outdated and seen as part of the autism spectrum. Some autistic people still identify with these diagnoses, though.

Some of these labels include:

Asperger’s disorder
Rett syndrome
Kanner’s autism
high-functioning autism
atypical autism
pervasive developmental disorder

Every autistic person is unique. An autistic person won’t always fit exactly into one of these levels or categories, and there’s no list of symptoms of autism that applies to everyone. For instance, some autistic people may be nonverbal but need only minimal support in day-to-day life.

In most situations, symptoms of autism are diagnosed during childhood. Parents may notice behavioral differences in their child and consult a doctor for more information.

After watching the child’s communication and behavior, the clinician may be able to help determine whether they meet the symptom criteria for autism. Your health professional might also refer you to a specialist who is skilled at recognizing autism in children.

According to the DSM-5, you might meet the criteria for an autism diagnosis if your communication and behavioral patterns:

impact multiple areas of your life
have been present since your early childhood
make areas of your life, like work or relationships, harder to manage
aren’t better explained by an intellectual disability

A clinician who’s diagnosing autism will also note whether symptoms are accompanied by intellectual and/or language impairment or catatonia.

If you’re an adult and think you might be autistic, it can be difficult to find a specialist who knows how to diagnose autism in adults. While this can be a challenge, it’s not impossible.

If you’re autistic, you’ll likely show certain patterns of behavior and communication. And while some autistic people need a lot of day-to-day support, others need only a little.

Many autistic people lead happy, full lives. For some autistic people, behavioral patterns make day-to-day living harder or negatively impact their mental health. If this sounds like you, learning ways to manage these patterns can help.

You can learn more about strategies for managing as an autistic adult here and get tips for supporting autistic children here.

Autism Test and Predisposition

Autism is often thought of as purely childhood, acquired, or temporary. However, it is not. Unfortunately, the nature of the disorder is not fully understood, therefore it is impossible to completely cure patients with such a diagnosis using known methods. Symptoms persist even into adulthood and may only improve. If the autistic person does not receive therapy, the prognosis is even worse. A test for autism will show a predisposition to this and similar deviations and give a couple of tips on this.

1. How easily can you maintain eye contact with the other person?

Easy enough.

If the interlocutor is pleasant, I can look into his eyes for a long time. However, with strangers, not everything is so easy.

It is very difficult for me to do this, I have to put in a lot of effort.

I can't look other people in the eye at all.

2. Do you currently live with your parents?

No, I live alone or with a partner.

Yes, I'm under 25.

Yes, I'm 25-30.

Yes, I'm over 30, or I'm just afraid of living apart from my parents.

3. Do you have problems with social adaptation? When did they start?

I have no such problems at all.

I have a slight anxiety when I get into unfamiliar situations, but it does not really interfere with my life. It appeared more in adulthood.

I have tangible problems with being around people, whether they started in adolescence or later.

I have a huge social adjustment problem. As far as I remember, I have had them all my life.

4. Has it ever happened to you that you almost unconsciously immediately repeated the phrases of people who spoke to you?

No, that certainly didn't happen.

I don't remember it.

There were several times.

It was often, especially in childhood.

5. Can you say that you have many interests or that they are diverse?

Yes, I have many hobbies and they are not alike (reading and dancing or needlework and volunteering, for example).

I don't have many interests, but they are more or less varied.

I have few interests, and they are not related to communication. Sometimes I want to expand their circle, but something seems to interfere with me.

I only have 1-3 hobbies that are completely unrelated to communication, and they are very limited in variety. It's hard for me to try new things.

6. Why do you want to move away from the outside world, isolate yourself from people?

I don't want to do this at all.

I often want to do this after stressful situations, so I deal with them better.

Solitude is an integral part of me. It is difficult for me to return to normal activities after periods of seclusion.

I am afraid of people, talking to them, unexpected noises, haste, fuss.

7. How well can you recognize other people's facial features and emotions?

Very good.

When how.

It's hard enough for me to do this.

I can't recognize other people's emotions and can't remember faces.

8. What is your IQ level?

Over 70.

I don't know for sure.

70 or less.

Less than 50.

9. How well do you express your emotions in front of others?

I always show my emotions openly.

I show my emotions openly only when I am around those closest to me.

I find it difficult to show my emotions, so I avoid it.

I can hardly express or control my emotions.

10. Can you hold a long conversation on a light general topic?

Yes, no problem.

In general, yes, but I don't like long empty talk.

When how. It happens that I cope well with this, but sometimes even simple long conversations are unusually difficult for me.

No, even simple topics of discussion cause me almost panic, I avoid them in any way.

11. Do you have a job or did you have one in the past?

Yes, I have a job that involves at least some contact with other people. Or I'm still a student/actively looking for a job.

Yes, but my job doesn't involve much interaction with people.

I had/have a remote job. Or it is a part-time job with minimal social contact. I chose her because I find it difficult to interact with other people.

No, I've never had a job and I'm over 27.

12. Are you attentive to non-essential details or inanimate objects?

No, I don't get hung up on anything at all.

Only in matters that are really important to me.

Yes, I often get hung up on unnecessary trifles and I can't overcome it.

Yes, but only to a few specific details and one or two items. For everything else, I don’t react at all and I can’t concentrate.

13. How often and how willingly do you communicate with people outside your family circle?

Quite often, I am a very sociable person.

Not very often, but simply because I don't want to.

Rarely, I find it difficult to make friends and communicate with strangers.

Never, I avoid any acquaintances and communication outside the home.

14. Do you have uncontrollable outbursts of anger if your plans are violated or things don't work out for you?

No, I have very good control over my emotions.

I can get so angry or hysterical if I had a busy day.

This happens, I find it difficult to suppress these outbreaks.

Aggression occurs every time something goes wrong.

15. Did you have a speech delay as a child?

No, I spoke in time or even earlier.

I don't know for sure.

I often babbled, but then I started to do it less often, and I learned/learned to talk later than other children.

I spoke much later than my peers.

16. Do you find it difficult to take part in activities that require active imagination and imagery?

No, I have a very good imagination.

Depends on the type and topic of the task.

Yes, my imagination is weak.

I can't do things that require imagery at all.

17. Do you have any activities that you feel you need to repeat constantly to stay calm?

No.

Only in stressful situations.

There are such actions, but with effort I can force myself to stop them.

Yes. I can not refuse these actions for a long time and do them every day several times.

18. Have you been diagnosed with autism by psychotherapists or psychiatrists?

No, I have never visited a psychologist because I have no complaints.

No, I have never had an appointment with such specialists, because I did not have such an opportunity.

No, but I've been diagnosed with social anxiety, social phobia.

Yes, I have been diagnosed with this before.

19. How well do you understand other people's body language - their gestures, postures, facial expressions (provided that they do not play and do not restrain the expression of their emotions)?

Yes, I literally read people by their body language.

Depends on the person and the degree of his emotional expression.

I don't understand body language well, I often make mistakes in its analysis.

I don't understand body language and have absolutely no idea how other people feel.

20. Do your days and your schedule look very similar?

No, I have a very varied life.

It happens in different ways - sometimes stagnation, sometimes changes.

Yes, it's hard for me to include something new in my schedule.

They are almost identical and even the smallest changes scare me.

A diagnostic test that allows you to independently track the dynamics of a child's development - NGO of assistance to children with ASD "Contact"

ATEC Autism Test to assess progress and identify problems

The

Autism Test, ATEK, is used to assess progress in children with autism. Scoring is automatic.

I. Speech/Language/Communication Skills

1. Knows own name: YesSometimesNo	2. Responds to ‘no’ or ‘stop’: YesSometimesNo
3. Can execute some commands: YesSometimesNo	4. Can say one word: YesSometimesNo
5. Can say 2 words in a row: YesSometimesNo	6. Can say 3 words in a row: YesSometimesNo
7. Knows 10 or more words: YesSometimesNo	8. Uses sentences of 4 or more words in speech: YesSometimesNo
9. Explains what he/she wants: YesSometimesNo	10. Asks meaningful questions: YesSometimesNo
11. Speech is most often meaningful/logical: YesSometimesNo	12. Often uses sentences arranged in a logical sequence: YesSometimesNo
13. Maintains a conversation: YesSometimesNo	14. Has normal communication skills for her age: YesSometimesNo

II. Socialization

1. Seems to be in a shell - you can't reach him/her: YesSometimesNo	2. Ignores other people: YesSometimesNo
3. Doesn't pay much attention if he/she is spoken to: YesSometimesNo	4. Not willing to work together: YesSometimesNo
5. No eye contact: YesSometimesNo	6. Prefers to be alone: YesSometimesNo
7. Shows no affection: YesSometimesNo	8. Does not greet parents: YesSometimesNo
9. Avoids contact with others: YesSometimesNo	10. No simulation: YesSometimesNo
11. Dislikes touching/hugs: YesSometimesNo	12. Not divided, no pointing gesture: YesSometimesNo
13. Does not wave goodbye: YesSometimesNo	14. Naughty/Naughty: YesSometimesNo
15. Experiences bouts of anger, irritability: YesSometimesNo	16. Lack of friends/no company: YesSometimesNo
17. Rarely smiles: YesSometimesNo	18. Doesn't understand other people's feelings: YesSometimesNo
19. Is indifferent if they express sympathy for him: YesSometimesNo	20. Does not respond to parental care: YesSometimesNo

III. Sensory skills/Cognitive abilities

1. Responds to own name: YesSometimesNo	2. Responds to praise: YesSometimesNo
3. Looks at people and animals: YesSometimesNo	4. Looks at pictures (and TV): YesSometimesNo
5. Can draw, paint, craft: YesSometimesNo	6. Plays with toys correctly: YesSometimesNo
7. Facial expression appropriate to the situation: YesSometimesNo	8. Understands what is happening on the TV screen: YesSometimesNo
9. Understands explanations: YesSometimesNo	10. Is aware of the environment: YesSometimesNo
11. Recognizes danger: YesSometimesNo	12. Shows imagination: YesSometimesNo
13. Shows initiative: YesSometimesNo	14. Knows how to dress himself: YesSometimesNo
15. Shows curiosity, interest: YesSometimesNo	16. Courageous - explores surroundings: YesSometimesNo
17. Adequately perceives the environment, does not withdraw into himself: YesSometimesNo	18. Looks where others are looking: YesSometimesNo

IV. Health/Growth/Behavior

1. Bedwetting: Not a problem Mild problem Moderate problem Serious problem

2. Peeing in pants/diapers: No problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

3. Pooping in pants/diapers: No problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

4. Diarrhea: Not a problem Mild problem Moderate problem Serious problem

5. Constipation: Not a problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

6. Sleep problems: Not a problem Mild problem Moderate problem Serious problem

7. Eating too much/too little: Not a problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

8. Eats a very limited set of foods: No problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

9. Hyperactivity: Not a problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

10. Apathy: Not a problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

11. Hits or injures himself: No problem Minor problem Medium problem Serious problem

12. Hitting or injuring others: Not a problem Minor problem Medium problem Serious problem

13. Breaks and throws everything around: No problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

14. Sound Sensitivity: No Problem Mild Problem Moderate Problem Serious Problem

15. Anxiety/fear: Not a problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

16. Depression/tears: Not a problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

17. Seizures: Not a problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

18. Obsessive Speech: Not a Problem Mild Problem Medium Problem Serious Problem

19. Same procedure: No problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

20. Yelling and yelling: No problem Minor problem Medium problem Serious problem

21. Need for uniformity: Not a problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

22. Persistent agitation: Not a problem Mild problem Medium problem Severe problem

23. Insensitivity to pain: No problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

24. Concentration on specific subjects/topics: Not a problem Mild problem Medium problem Serious problem

25.

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