The following is a questionnaire designed to help you understand, identify, and perform a basic evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorder symptoms.
The test involves reviewing certain feelings, attitudes, and thoughts, and answering if these aspects apply to you, or have in the past. A distinction is made as to whether these statements never applied to you, were applicable when you were a child, or are applicable now.
This assessment is known as Ritvo Autism & Asperger Diagnostic Scale (RAADS-14) and is based on the work of Eriksson et al., (2013).
Note that when the assessment refers to when you were “young”, this refers to when you were under the age of 16.
For each of the following statements, which applies best to you?
Question 1 / 14
It is difficult for me to understand how other people are feeling when we are talking.
Question 2 / 14
Some ordinary textures that do not bother others feel very offensive when they touch my skin.
Question 3 / 14
It is very difficult for me to work and function in groups.
Question 4 / 14
It is difficult to figure out what other people expect of me.
Question 5 / 14
I often don’t know how to act in social situations.
Question 6 / 14
I can chat and make small talk with people.
Question 7 / 14
When I feel overwhelmed by my senses, I have to isolate myself to shut them down.
Question 8 / 14
How to make friends and socialize is a mystery to me.
Question 9 / 14
When talking to someone, I have a hard time telling when it is my turn to talk or to listen.
Question 10 / 14
Sometimes I have to cover my ears to block out painful noises (like vacuum cleaners or people talking too much or too loudly).
Question 11 / 14
It can be very hard to read someone’s face, hand, and body movements when we are talking.
Question 12 / 14
I focus on details rather than the overall idea.
Question 13 / 14
I take things too literally, so I often miss what people are trying to say.
Question 14 / 14
I get extremely upset when the way I like to do things is suddenly changed.
Source
Eriksson, J. M., Andersen, L. M., & Bejerot, S. (2013). RAADS-14 Screen: validity of a screening tool for autism spectrum disorder in an adult psychiatric population. Molecular Autism, 4(1), 49. https://doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-4-49
