Adult Autism Screening Questionnaire and Exploration Guide

Before you start

• The result is not a diagnosis.
• Your answers stay in this browser and are not saved.

RAADS-14 Screen

Which response best describes you?

0 of 14 answered

Choose one response for each statement. Think about both your current and earlier experiences.

1It is difficult for me to understand how other people are feeling when we are talking.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

2Some ordinary textures that do not bother others feel very offensive when they touch my skin.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

3It is very difficult for me to work and function in groups.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

4It is difficult to figure out what other people expect of me.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

5I often don’t know how to act in social situations.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

6I can chat and make small talk with people.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

7When I feel overwhelmed by my senses, I have to isolate myself to shut them down.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

8How to make friends and socialize is a mystery to me.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

9When talking to someone, I have a hard time telling when it is my turn to talk or to listen.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

10Sometimes I have to cover my ears to block out painful noises (like vacuum cleaners or people talking too much or too loudly).

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

11It can be very hard to read someone’s face, hand, and body movements when we are talking.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

12I focus on details rather than the overall idea.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

13I take things too literally, so I often miss what people are trying to say.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

14I get extremely upset when the way I like to do things is suddenly changed.

True now and when I was young True only now True only when I was younger than 16 Never true

View my screening result Clear answers

Please answer all 14 statements before viewing the result.

This is not a diagnosis or probability. ADHD, anxiety and other experiences may also affect the score.

Autism and AuDHD assessment Read about autistic masking

Optional reflection, not part of the RAADS-14

Add some context

These prompts are not scored. Use them only if they help you prepare for a discussion.

I remember similar patterns during childhood or adolescence, even if they looked different then. The experiences occur across more than one setting, such as home, work, study or relationships. Preparation, masking or recovery time may make the effort less visible to other people. The pattern affects daily functioning, wellbeing, relationships or access to suitable support. I know what I would like help understanding, with or without a diagnosis.

Understanding your score

A score of 14 or above meets the published screening cutoff. The original study identified most autistic participants at this level, but many participants with ADHD or other psychiatric diagnoses also met it.

The result may support further discussion. It cannot tell you which explanation fits best, and a lower score cannot exclude autism.

What could you do next?

What does an assessment consider?

A fuller assessment looks at development, patterns across settings, daily functioning and other possible explanations. Older records or another person’s observations may help when available, but they are not always accessible. Autism and ADHD can also coexist. Read more about autism and ADHD overlap in adults.

About the RAADS-14 Screen

Jonna M. Eriksson, Lisa M.J. Andersen and Susanne Bejerot developed the RAADS-14 from the longer RAADS-R. The article and questionnaire use the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 licence.

Reference: Eriksson JM, Andersen LMJ, Bejerot S. (2013). RAADS-14 Screen: validity of a screening tool for autism spectrum disorder in an adult psychiatric population. Molecular Autism, 4, 49. https://doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-4-49

Licence: Original research article and supplementary material distributed under CC BY 2.0.

Original RAADS-14 study · Published questionnaire and scoring guide · Later adult outpatient validity study

Common questions

Can the RAADS-14 diagnose autism?

No. Autism diagnosis requires a broader clinical assessment.

Does a score of 14 mean I am probably autistic?

No. It is a screening cutoff, not a probability. ADHD and other mental health concerns can also raise the score.

Can masking affect an autism screening result?

Possibly. Self-report depends on how you understand each statement and your own patterns. An assessment can explore masking and recovery effort.

Does a score below 14 rule out autism?

No. You can still discuss longstanding concerns with a qualified professional.

Have an administrative question about assessment?

Call 0431 828 769, email reception@breathe-n-smile.com, or use the contact form to ask about availability, fees or the assessment process.

Please avoid including sensitive clinical information in ordinary email or website messages.