ASD Screening Tool · Teens & Adults

Autism Spectrum Self-Assessment

A 12-question screening tool based on DSM-5 ASD criteria across three domains: social communication, behavioral patterns, and sensory experience. Takes about 3 minutes. Not a diagnosis — a starting point.

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This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a medical diagnosis.

About Autism in Adults

Autism Is Often Missed Until Adulthood

Many autistic adults — especially women and those with higher cognitive abilities — go undiagnosed for decades. Social masking, late-onset awareness, and outdated stereotypes mean that autism is frequently overlooked until significant distress leads someone to seek answers.

Social exhaustion
Social interactions feel effortful and draining — even enjoyable ones leave you depleted.
Need for sameness
Unexpected changes to plans, routines, or environments cause disproportionate distress.
Sensory sensitivity
Certain sounds, textures, lights, or smells that others ignore become overwhelming or unbearable.
Intense interests
Deep, focused passion for specific topics — sometimes called "special interests" — that feels different from typical hobbies.
Masking and camouflaging
Years of consciously studying and mimicking social behaviors to "pass" as neurotypical — an exhausting, often invisible effort.
Unwritten rules
Difficulty understanding implicit social expectations, sarcasm, or the "why" behind common conventions.
Self-Screening Tool · DSM-5 Based

Rate Each Statement

Think about your experiences across your lifetime, not just right now. How often do each of the following apply to you?

Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very Often
Part 1 — Social Communication
I find it difficult to share my thoughts or feelings with others, even people I trust.
I feel overwhelmed, anxious, or exhausted in social situations — even ones I chose to be in.
I struggle to make friends or have little interest in socializing the way others seem to.
I have difficulty reading facial expressions, body language, or what is left unsaid in conversation.
I consciously study and practice social behaviors to appear "normal" in ways others seem to do automatically.
Part 2 — Patterns & Routines
I rely on specific routines or rituals and become significantly distressed when they are disrupted.
I engage in repetitive movements (e.g., rocking, tapping, pacing) that feel calming or self-regulating.
I have deep, intense interests in specific topics that I think about or engage with far more than others seem to.
I insist on specific ways of doing things and find it difficult to be flexible when circumstances change.
Part 3 — Sensory Experience
I am significantly more sensitive to sensory input — sound, light, texture, smell, or touch — than most people around me.
Certain sounds, fabrics, or environments that others tolerate easily feel genuinely unbearable to me.
I actively seek out or avoid specific sensory experiences in ways that others find unusual or hard to understand.
FAQ

Common Questions

Can adults be diagnosed with autism for the first time?
Yes. Adult autism diagnosis is increasingly common, particularly among women and people with high cognitive ability. Many adults spent decades adapting, masking, or being misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression before recognizing autism as the underlying explanation.
What does an autism evaluation actually involve?
A comprehensive evaluation includes a clinical interview reviewing developmental history, current functioning across multiple domains, standardized assessments, and ruling out other explanations. We look at the full picture — not just a questionnaire score.
I score low but still relate strongly to these traits. Does that mean I'm not autistic?
Not necessarily. Masking can suppress symptom scores significantly. If you identify strongly with autistic traits despite a low screener score, that is worth exploring with a clinician who understands the spectrum — particularly late-identified and masked presentations.
How is autism different from social anxiety or ADHD?
There is significant overlap — and co-occurrence is common. Social anxiety involves fear of negative evaluation; autism involves differences in how social interaction is processed neurologically. ADHD and autism frequently co-occur. A proper evaluation distinguishes between them and identifies what is actually present.
What happens after a diagnosis?
A diagnosis opens access to targeted support: therapies adapted for autistic adults (CBT-A, social skills groups), accommodations at work or school, medication for co-occurring ADHD or anxiety, and simply the self-understanding that comes with knowing why certain things have always felt harder.

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Our psychiatric providers evaluate adults for autism spectrum disorder via telehealth across New York. Appointments available within 48 hours.

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