Have you ever wondered if you or someone you love might have autism?
Well, there is a 10-question quiz that might help answer that question.
The tool, used by NHS doctors and backed by academics at the University of Cambridge, does not confirm whether you are on the spectrum.
Instead, it is used as a reference screening tool.
Doctors who suspect patients are autistic based on their test responses are generally not evaluated by specialists.
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The questions revolve around a person’s ability to focus on tasks and understand other people’s intentions and emotions.
If you score six or more, your GP may consider referring you for further testing. However, this does not mean that you definitely have autism.
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, which links to the tool on its autism advice page, says the tool, called AQ-10, 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 you may be autistic, you can make an appointment with a GP.”
‘Offer them the results of the AQ-10, if you have done it (if you haven’t done the AQ-10, then the GP should go over the questions with you) and ask them to refer you to a diagnostic pathway. ‘
The first question is whether you “notice small sounds when others don’t.” Whoever selects “definitely” or “slightly agree” will get one point.
There are many adults who still do not know that they are on the autism spectrum. This is believed to be especially the case for women, and some experts believe that thousands of women, many of them middle-aged or older, are battling undiagnosed autism throughout their lives.
In 2021, television presenter Melanie Sykes (left) also announced that she had been diagnosed with the disease at age 51. Chris Packham (right), best known for his work on the BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, revealed that he was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in 2005. Last month he presented the two-part documentary ‘Inside Our Autistic Minds’ on BBC Two .
This is because autistic people often experience sensitivity to sound, such as noticing small details, patterns, smells or sounds that others don’t notice, according to the NHS.
Participants are also asked about their ability to concentrate.
It asks if you can focus on the “big picture” or just the “small details,” and if you can do more than one thing at a time and return to what you were doing if you are interrupted.
If you answer “definitely” or “slightly disagree” to these questions, you will get one point.
Many autistic people struggle to understand what others think or feel. To determine if you have this characteristic, the questionnaire asks if you can “read between the lines” when someone speaks to you.
Participants are also asked if they know when someone listening to them is addressing them or if they “understand the characters’ intentions” when they read.
A strong interest in a particular topic or activity is also associated with autism, says the NHS.
The quiz asks if you like to “collect information about categories of things” and gives examples of types of birds, trains, cars or plants. Those who “definitely” or “slightly agree” with this statement get one point.
The final questions of the questionnaire ask if you can tell what someone is thinking just by looking at their facial expressions and if you can “work out” people’s intentions.
It is estimated that around 700,000 people, including adults and children, in the UK have a diagnosis of autism.
However, there are many adults who still do not know that they are on the spectrum.
This is believed to be especially the case for women, and some experts believe that thousands of women, many of them middle-aged or older, are battling undiagnosed autism throughout their lives.
TV stars Melanie Sykes, Chris Packham and Christine McGuinness have recently shared their own autism diagnoses as adults, helping to raise awareness of the disorder.
If you think you or your child have signs of autism, the NHS recommends you speak to your GP, a health visitor if your child is under five, or another doctor or therapist. A professional will be able to refer you to an autism specialist for an evaluation.