TO GET an official autism diagnosis, you need to be assessed by a healthcare professional.
But if you think your or your child might have the condition, a GP has shared a simple 10-second quiz that you can use to help support your suspicions.
Take the test below.
The NHS waiting list for autism assessment is the longest since current records began[/caption]
Dr Sermed Mezher posted about the test, saying it could be used to identify signs of autism[/caption]
The assessment tool — used by NHS doctors — does not confirm whether you are on the spectrum.
Instead, it is used to screen people who think they might have the condition. A version for children is also available.
The quiz is designed to help identify symptoms of autism, a lifelong developmental disability.
It asks questions such as whether you, or your child, struggle to read others’ emotions, find it hard to express how you feel, or have an exceptionally good eye for detail.
Medics who suspect patients to be autistic based on their answers to the quiz are typically referred for specialist assessments.
It comes as waiting lists for diagnosis in England reach a record-high.
NHS data published in December 2023 revealed that 172,022 people were waiting for an autism assessment in England – a 47 per cent increase on the year before.
London-based locum GP and author Dr Sermed Mezher mentioned the test in a recent post to his Instagram page.
Called the AQ-10 test, or the Autism Spectrum Quotient-10, he said the tool “a brief screening tool designed to identify signs that may suggest a person could have autism”.
The test contains ten statements about your outlook on life and asks you to determine how much you agree with each using a scoring system of points from one to 10.
Examples include: “I often notice small sounds when others do not”, I find it easy to do more than one thing at once”, and “I find it difficult to work out people’s intentions”.
If you score six or more, your GP might consider referring for further tests.
Dr Mezher noted: “While the AQ-10 can provide an indication of autistic traits, it is not a diagnostic tool.
“A high score on the AQ-10 suggests that further assessment might be necessary, but it cannot confirm an autism diagnosis.
“Instead, the test serves as a preliminary step to highlight whether a more comprehensive evaluation by a healthcare professional is warranted.
“An official diagnosis requires in-depth analysis, including clinical interviews, developmental history, and observations by specialists.
“The AQ-10 can be a useful first step in recognising potential signs of autism, but it is not definitive – merely a guide to help determine if additional professional insights are needed.”
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, which links to the tool in its autism advice page, says the tool is a “good place to start” if you are looking for a test to see if you may be autistic.
The trust says the test gives a “general indication of whether someone might have autism”.
It says: “If you suspect that you may be autistic, you can then make an appointment to see a GP.”
The autism test
AQ-10: A quick referral guide for adults with suspected autism who do not have a learning disability.
For adults
For each question, write down if you Definitely Agree, Slightly Agree, Slightly Disagree or Definitely Agree
- I often notice small sounds when others do not
- I usually concentrate more on the whole picture, rather than the small details
- I find it easy to do more than one thing at once
- If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly
- I find it easy to ‘read between the lines’ when someone is talking to me
- I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored
- When I’m reading a story I find it difficult to work out the characters’ intentions
- I like to collect information about categories of things (e.g. types of car, types of bird, types of train, types of plant etc)
- I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face
- I find it difficult to work out people’s intentions
Score 1 point for Definitely or Slightly Agree on each of items 1, 7, 8, and 10. Score 1 point for Definitely or Slightly Disagree on each of items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9. If the individual scores more than 6 out of 10, consider referring them for a specialist diagnostic assessment.
For children
For each question, write down if you Definitely Agree, Slightly Agree, Slightly Disagree or Definitely Agree
- S/he often notices small sounds when others do not
- S/he usually concentrates more on the whole picture, rather than the small details
- In a social group, s/he can easily keep track of several different people’s conversations
- S/he finds it easy to go back and forth between different activities
- S/he doesn’t know how to keep a conversation going with his/her peers
- S/he is good at social chit-chat
- When s/he is read a story, s/he finds it difficult to work out the character’s intentions or feelings
- When s/he was in preschool, s/he used to enjoy playing games involving pretending with other children
- S/he finds it easy to work out what someon is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face
- S/he finds it hard to make new friends
Only 1 point can be scored for each question. Score 1 point for Definitely or Slightly Agree on each of items 1, 5, 7 and 10. Score 1 point for Definitely or Slightly Disagree on each of items 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9. If the individual scores more than 6 out of 10, consider referring them for a specialist diagnostic assessment.
What is autism?
It is estimated that around 700,000 people, including adults and children, in the UK have an autism diagnosis.
However, there are many adults who are still unaware that they are on the spectrum.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the name for a range of similar conditions, including Asperger syndrome, that affect a person’s social interaction, communication, interests and behaviour.
People on the autism spectrum may, for example, be under or oversensitive to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light, or colours.
They may experience intense anxiety around unexpected change and in social situations.
However, no two people with ASD have the exact same set of symptoms.
While the conditions are most often diagnosed in toddlers, it’s possible for adults on the spectrum to go undiagnosed.
One in 100 people have autism
However, figures suggest people in England are experiencing severely long waits for diagnoses.
Nine out of 10 patients were waiting longer than the recommended 13 weeks, the data shows.
Experts called the system “broken” and called for change or risk people missing out on “early vital support”.
There were 187,567 people in England waiting for an autism assessment in June 2024, another record high and up 22 per cent from 153,969 in June 2023, according to NHS Digital.
The figure is also nine times the 20,509 people who were waiting five years earlier in June 2019.
Of the total, almost two thirds – or 117,494 – were children (under the age of 18).
Mel Merritt, head of policy and campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: “Rocketing waiting lists mean people are waiting years for an autism assessment and missing out on early vital support. This broken system must change.”
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance states that no-one should wait longer than 13 weeks for an assessment.
Of June’s total, some 163,666 people – or nine in 10 – had been waiting for more than 13 weeks for an assessment, including 101,987 who were aged 0 to 17.
Ms Merritt added: “An autism assessment can be the first step to understanding people’s needs and although they shouldn’t be, people are often told they can’t get support without a diagnosis.
“Getting the NHS back on its feet means fixing the crisis in diagnosis waiting times. People across the country are depending on the Government to end this scandal.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The NHS is broken and there are unacceptable delays in autism diagnosis – we are working hard to fix this.
“We are committed to reducing waiting times and ensuring people with autism can access high-quality care and support more quickly.”
Experts are also putting long waitlists down to – in part- increased public awareness of the condition.
Dr Conor Davidson, autism champion for the Royal College of Psychiatrists, previously said: “Public awareness of autism has significantly increased in recent years, and this has led to a seismic rise in the number of people coming forward for support.
“It is estimated that at least one per cent of the population is autistic so it is likely demand will continue to grow in the coming years.”
He added that the “vast majority of people are facing unacceptable waits for an assessment, and we cannot allow this to become normal”.
If you’re interested in being evaluated for autism, begin with your family doctor, who will evaluate you to be certain that there isn’t an underlying physical illness accounting for your behaviours.
Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for in-depth assessment.
What are the signs and symptoms of autism in children?
The NHS outlines the signs of symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in school-age children.
Spoken language
- Preferring to avoid using spoken language
- Speech that sounds very monotonous or flat
- Speaking in pre-learned phrases rather than putting together individual words to form new sentences
- Seeming to talk “at” people rather than sharing a two-way conversation
Responding to others
- Taking people’s speech literally and being unable to understand sarcasm, metaphors or figures of speech
- Reacting unusually negatively when asked to do something by someone else
Interacting with others
- Not being aware of other people’s personal space, or being unusually intolerant of people entering their own personal space
- Little interest in interacting with other people, including children of a similar age, or having few close friends, despite attempts to form friendships
- Not understanding how people normally interact socially, such as greeting people or wishing them farewell
- Being unable to adapt the tone and content of their speech to different social situations – for example, speaking very formally at a party and then speaking to total strangers in a familiar way
- Not enjoying situations and activities that most children of their age enjoy
- Rarely using gestures or facial expressions when communicating
- Avoiding eye contact
Behaviour
- Repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, rocking back and forth, or flicking their fingers
- Playing in a repetitive and unimaginative way, often preferring to Play with objects rather than people
- Developing a highly specific interest in a particular subject or activity
- Preferring to have a familiar routine and getting very upset if there are changes to their normal routine
- Having a strong like or dislike of certain foods based on the texture or colour of the food as much as the taste
- Unusual sensory interests – for example, children with ASD may sniff toys, objects or people inappropriately
