Posted inMental Health

Asperger Test – Screen for Autism Traits (50 Q’s)

Posted inMental Health

Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) Screening Test

This screening test is based on the validated Autism Spectrum Quotient developed by Simon Baron-Cohen and colleagues at the Cambridge Autism Research Centre. It measures traits associated with autism spectrum conditions in adults.

Number of Questions: 50

Estimated Time: 10 minutes

Scoring Range: 0-50 points

Important Notice: This is a screening instrument, not a diagnostic assessment. A high score suggests elevated autistic traits and may warrant further evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional. Many individuals with autistic traits live fulfilling lives without requiring intervention. This test should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
1. I prefer to do things with others rather than on my own
2. I prefer to do things the same way over and over again
3. If I try to imagine something, I find it very easy to create a picture in my mind
4. I frequently get so strongly absorbed in one thing that I lose sight of other things
5. I often notice small sounds when others do not
6. I usually notice car number plates or similar strings of information
7. Other people frequently tell me that what I’ve said is impolite, even though I think it is polite
8. When I’m reading a story, I can easily imagine what the characters might look like
9. I am fascinated by dates
10. In a social group, I can easily keep track of several different people’s conversations
11. I find social situations easy
12. I tend to notice details that others do not
13. I would rather go to a library than a party
14. I find making up stories easy
15. I find myself drawn more strongly to people than to things
16. I tend to have very strong interests which I get upset about if I can’t pursue
17. I enjoy social chit-chat
18. When I talk, it isn’t always easy for others to get a word in edgeways
19. I am fascinated by numbers
20. When I’m reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters’ intentions
21. I don’t particularly enjoy reading fiction
22. I find it hard to make new friends
23. I notice patterns in things all the time
24. I would rather go to the theater than a museum
25. It does not upset me if my daily routine is disturbed
26. I frequently find that I don’t know how to keep a conversation going
27. I find it easy to ‘read between the lines’ when someone is talking to me
28. I usually concentrate more on the whole picture, rather than the small details
29. I am not very good at remembering phone numbers
30. I don’t usually notice small changes in a situation, or a person’s appearance
31. I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored
32. I find it easy to do more than one thing at a time
33. When I talk on the phone, I’m not sure when it’s my turn to speak
34. I enjoy doing things spontaneously
35. I am often the last to get the point of a joke
36. I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face
37. If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly
38. I am good at social chit-chat
39. People often tell me that I keep going on and on about the same thing
40. When I was young, I used to enjoy playing games involving pretending with other children
41. I like to collect information about categories of things (e.g., types of cars, birds, trains, plants)
42. I find it difficult to imagine what it would be like to be someone else
43. I like to carefully plan any activities I participate in
44. I enjoy social occasions
45. I find it difficult to work out people’s intentions
46. New situations make me anxious
47. I enjoy meeting new people
48. I am a good diplomat
49. I am not very good at remembering people’s dates of birth
50. I find it very easy to play games with children that involve pretending
0
out of 50

References

  1. Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., Martin, J., & Clubley, E. (2001). The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger Syndrome/High-Functioning Autism, Males and Females, Scientists and Mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(1), 5-17.
  2. Woodbury-Smith, M. R., Robinson, J., Wheelwright, S., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2005). Screening adults for Asperger Syndrome using the AQ: A preliminary study of its diagnostic validity in clinical practice. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35(3), 331-335.
  3. Baron-Cohen, S., Hoekstra, R. A., Knickmeyer, R., & Wheelwright, S. (2006). The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ)—Adolescent Version. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(3), 343-350.
  4. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
  5. Lundqvist, L. O., & Lindner, H. (2017). Is the Autism-Spectrum Quotient a Valid Measure of Traits Associated with the Autism Spectrum? A Rasch Validation in Adults with and Without Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(7), 2080-2091.