Screening questionnaires
Self-report symptom screening for adults
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-5)
The ASRS-5 is a WHO-endorsed five-item screener for adult ADHD, validated against DSM-5 criteria. A positive screen suggests further clinical assessment would be worthwhile. It is not diagnostic.
Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10)
The AQ-10 is a 10-item screening tool developed at the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge. It is recommended by NICE for use in adults where autism is suspected. A score of 6 or above warrants referral for formal assessment.
A note for women and late-identified adults
The AQ-10 was developed primarily using male-predominant research samples and may underestimate autistic traits in people who have learned to mask or compensate for their difficulties. Many autistic women and late-diagnosed adults score below the screening threshold despite meeting full diagnostic criteria. If your score is low but you recognise yourself in descriptions of autism (particularly the internal experience of social effort, sensory sensitivity, or the need for routine), a formal clinical assessment may still be worthwhile. Our full diagnostic assessment includes instruments designed with this in mind, including the CAT-Q, which measures camouflaging directly, and the RAADS-R, developed for adults whose autism went unrecognised earlier in life. Our guide to what the RAADS-R and CAT-Q measure explains both.