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🧩 Neurodivergent
Are you on the autism spectrum?
Baron-Cohen's AQ-10 autism screening tool.
Rate each statement 1 (definitely disagree) to 5 (definitely agree).
1I often notice small sounds when others do not.
2I usually concentrate more on the whole picture rather than small details.
3I find it easy to do more than one thing at once.
4If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly.
5I find it easy to read between the lines when someone is talking to me.
6I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face.
7I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored.
8When I'm reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters' intentions.
9I find social situations easy.
10I find it hard to make new friends.
Understanding the autism spectrum
The AQ-10 (Autism Spectrum Quotient-10) was developed by Simon Baron-Cohen at Cambridge University. It's the most widely used brief screening tool for autistic traits in adults.
AQ-10 scoring (Allison et al. 2012)
- Score ≤20: Low autistic traits — neurotypical range
- Score 21-30: Some traits — may or may not be on the spectrum
- Score 31-40: Elevated — clinical assessment recommended
- Score 41+: High — strong indicators of autism spectrum
- Clinical cutoff on original AQ-10: 6+/10 (mapped to ~30/50 here)
Autism facts
- 1 in 36 children diagnosed (CDC 2023), prevalence is rising due to better detection
- Many adults — especially women and AFAB individuals — go undiagnosed until their 30s-40s
- Autism is 80% heritable — the most genetic of all neurodevelopmental conditions
- "Masking" (camouflaging autistic traits) leads to burnout, anxiety and late diagnosis
- Autism is a spectrum — not a linear scale from "mild" to "severe"
Note: This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. If you score high, consider consulting a professional.
Sources: Baron-Cohen et al. (2001, AQ), Allison et al. (2012, AQ-10), CDC ADDM Network, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.