Adult Autism Assessment Self-Screening

Use the free self-screening process below on this page to help decide if proceeding with a full autism assessment could be appropriate for you. The self-screen is optional though encouraged.

Note that “screening” is merely a preliminary step and doesn’t indicate whether a person is autistic or not—it’s helpful in deciding if a more thorough “assessment” seems appropriate.

Last updated: Sept 15, 2024

Step 1: Screening Tests

Fill out these tests for adults who suspect that they may be autistic. This can be done here for free, no sign-up required:

Note your test scores then continue below.

CATI Score Interpretation

The CATI measures a broad range of autistic traits. Scores of 134 and above indicate that a person may be exhibiting numerous autistic traits.

CAT-Q Score Interpretation

The CAT-Q measures social “masking” strategies. Scores of 103 and higher indicate that a person may be masking autistic characteristics.

Making a decision based on your test scores

  • This suggests that pursuing a full assessment may be suitable for you, given that you've scored above the thresholds on several screening tests; however, this decision is intricate and shouldn’t be based solely on these scores. A proper assessment requires multiple tests and a thorough clinical interview. Scoring at or above threshold on these and potentially other related tests, like the AQ, implies that an autism assessment may be warranted. Read below to learn more.

    You can find more about my online assessment process here if you can be in Alberta, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick, Canada at the time of assessment. Numerous options exist for adult autism assessments; consider consulting your family doctor for potentially cost-free assessments through your medical system based on your location. Starting with local autism support groups for assessment recommendations can be beneficial.

  • If you’ve learned an extensive amount about autism and many of the test questions asked about things that were familiar to your own experience, then it could still be appropriate to seek an autism assessment though you’re trending into the qualitative realm making this decision. Certainly there are autistic people who scored ~125 on the CATI test, in the research for that test. However, proceed with caution here and spend the time to learn a substantial amount about autism before trying to make your decision (see step 2 below)

  • Proceed cautiously and educate yourself extensively about autism before deciding (see step 2). Sub-threshold scores can still occur in autistic individuals, though it is statistically less likely.

  • A full assessment is probably not recommended at this point. However, completing the rest of the self-screening is encouraged to gather more information before deciding. While screening tests are valuable, an adult diagnosis for autism should involve extensive testing and a thorough interview.

Step 2: Learn More, if needed

If you’re unsure after step 1, review:

  • This great video from Paul, who is autistic and creates great content. I’ve corresponded with Paul and I trust his judgment

  • This well known list of autistic adult traits by Samantha Craft

  • This concise video by Yo Samdy Sam

  • Characteristics of trauma and autism often overlap significantly. If you’ve had chronic difficult experiences or trauma, especially growing up, examining this subject closely is crucial. Consider the following resources:

  • Consider watching/reading more on this subject from these people or from other resources they mention, or other ones that you find

  • This is from Devon’s excellent book Unmasking Autism, which is worth reading.

    Emotional
    Strikes others as emotionally immature and sensitive.
    Prone to outbursts or crying jags, sometimes over seemingly small things.
    Has trouble recognizing or naming one's feelings.
    Ignores or suppresses emotions until they "bubble up" and explode.
    May become disturbed or overwhelmed when others are upset, but uncertain how to respond or support them.
    Goes "blank" and seems to shut down after prolonged socializing or when overstimulated.

    Psychological
    Reports a high degree of anxiety, especially social anxiety.
    Is perceived by others as moody and prone to bouts of depression.
    May have been diagnosed with mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, or personality disorders such as Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder, before
    Autism was discovered.
    Fears rejection intensely and tries to manage how other people feel to avoid it.
    Has an unstable sense of self, perhaps highly dependent on the opinions of others.

    Behavioural
    Uses control to manage stress: follows intense self-imposed rules, despite having an otherwise unconventional personality.
    Is usually happiest at home or in a familiar, predictable environment.
    Seems youthful for their age, in looks, dress, behaviour, or interests.
    Prone to excessive exercise, calorie restriction, or other eating disordered behaviours.
    Neglects physical health until it becomes impossible to ignore.
    Self-soothes by constantly fidgeting, listening to repetitive music, twirling hair, picking at skin or cuticles, etc.

    Social
    Is a social chameleon; adopts the mannerisms and interests of the groups they're in.
    May be highly self-educated but will have struggled with social aspects of college or their career.
    Can be very shy or mute, yet can become very outspoken when discussing a subject they are passionate about.
    Struggles to know when to speak when in large groups or at parties.
    Does not initiate conversations but can appear outgoing and comfortable when approached.
    Can socialize, but primarily in shallow, superficial ways that may seem like a performance.
    Struggles to form deeper friendships.
    Has trouble disappointing or disagreeing with someone during a real-time conversation.

Spend at least 30 minutes to a few hours on this step. Doing so will likely give you a clearer sense if the experiences and characteristics being described here sound similar to your own experiences.

Example: if your CATI score was perhaps 127 (vs its threshold of 134) and your CAT-Q score was 125 (vs 100), and if substantial aspects of the reading you just did sounded familiar, then you may want to consider seeking an assessment. You’re welcome to do that with me if you can be in Alberta, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick at the time of the assessment—start here.

Step 3: Deep Dive

If you still feel unsure about seeking an assessment after considering the above, that’s quite normal! However, achieving further clarity will require significant time and effort. Here are numerous resources for you to reflect upon:

  • Watch many videos from Yo Samdy Sam, selecting ones whose subject catches your attention

  • Do the same with many videos by Autism From the Inside, as well as any other safe and reliable creators you find

  • Consider doing more screening tests for autism, such as the Autism Quotient (AQ), which can be found online

  • Read several of these in-depth articles that catch your interest, though you’ll have to navigate back through the pages as the articles’ “discoverability” are not great

  • Read Unmasking Autism by Devon Price, an autistic psychologist

  • Read Knowing Why: Adult-Diagnosed Autistic People on Life and Autism, by Elizabeth Bartmess

  • Read Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg, which is particularly relevant to people who are employed or struggle with employment

  • Read any (or many) other similar books that are available in this field

  • The Autistic Self Advocacy Network wrote an introductory book called Welcome to the Autistic Community; it’s available for free on that site or you can choose to buy it. It was written by autistic people, for autistic people.

  • Erin Bulluss, Ph.D and Abby Sesterka are great authors who write in an empowering way about autism. “Erin and Abby are both late-diagnosed Autistic women who write collaboratively about issues relevant to autism, drawing from both scholarly literature and their lived experiences. Abby and Erin aim to create authentic narratives to promote acceptance, understanding, and wellbeing for Autistic individuals.”

  • Spend a few weeks reading (and participating if you want to) in forums like this one r/aspergirls

  • Similar to the forum idea, consider connecting with neurodivergent people either online or in your local area and see what it’s like for you to get to know them, discuss potential shared experiences, supports, resources, and so on.

Step 4: Decisions and Self-Doubt

If steps 1 to 3 of the self-screen still left you struggling to decide whether or not you want to do an assessment, that’s reasonably common. Many people feel self-doubt or imposter-syndrome about whether or not they’re autistic. I’ll reiterate my point from above: If you scored at or above the threshold on both tests and the follow up reading in steps 2 and 3 resonated with you, you could consider doing an assessment.

Once you’ve done the above learning, you should be in a better position to decide about an assessment. If you still truly can’t decide, feel free to reach out to me (assessment@ndpsych.com) if you can be in Alberta, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick at the time of the assessment.

Whatever you decide, good luck!

Disclaimer: The above process is only for autism screening, not assessment. A “positive” result here does not equate to a diagnosis. It simply indicates the possible presence of traits or characteristics that may warrant further examination. Diagnosing autism, especially in adults, is intricate and requires a personalized approach with an experienced clinician. This screening is merely a preliminary step for educational purposes.