Could YOU have autism? Take the 10-question NHS test to find out

Have you ever wondered if you or someone you love might have autism?

Well, there’s a ten-question quiz that can actually help answer that question.

The tool – used by NHS doctors and supported by academics at Cambridge University – does not confirm whether you are on the spectrum.

Instead, it is used as a gold standard screening tool.

Doctors who suspect that patients are autistic based on their answers to the test are usually referred for specialist examination.

Questions revolve around a person’s ability to focus on tasks and understand the intentions and emotions of others.

If you score a six or more, your GP may consider referring you for further examination. 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’re looking for a test to see if you might are autistic.

The trust says the test gives a ‘general indication of whether someone may have autism’.

It says: ‘If you suspect that you are autistic, you can make an appointment with your GP.

‘Offer them the results of the AQ-10, if you have taken it (if you have not taken the AQ-10, the GP must go through the questions with you) and ask if they can refer you to a diagnostic process. ‘

The first question asks whether you “notice small sounds when others do not.” Anyone who checks ‘certainly’ or ‘somewhat agree’ scores one point.

In 2021, TV presenter Melanie Sykes (left) also announced that she was diagnosed at the age of 51. Chris Packham (right), best known for his work on BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, revealed he was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in 2005. Last month he presented the two-part documentary ‘Inside Our Autistic Minds’ on BBC Two.

That’s because autistic people often experience sound sensitivity, such as noticing small details, patterns, smells or sounds that others don’t experience, according to the NHS.

Quiz takers are also asked about their ability to concentrate.

It asks whether you can focus on the ‘whole picture’ or just ‘small details’, and whether you can do more than one thing at a time and get back to what you were doing if you are interrupted.

If you answer ‘certainly’ or ‘somewhat disagree’ to these questions, you will score a point.

Many autistic people have difficulty understanding what others are thinking or feeling. To determine whether you have this characteristic, the quiz asks whether you can ‘read between the lines’ when someone talks to you.

Participants are also asked whether they know when someone listening to them is paying attention or whether they understand the characters’ intentions while reading.

A keen interest in a particular subject or activity has also been linked to autism, the NHS says.

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 ‘absolutely’ or ‘somewhat agree’ with this statement score a point.

The final questions of the quiz ask whether you can tell what someone is thinking just by looking at their facial expressions, and whether you can ‘determine’ people’s intentions.

It is estimated that around 700,000 people, including adults and children, in Britain have a diagnosis of autism.

However, there are many adults who are still unaware that they are on the spectrum.

This is thought to be especially true among women, with some experts believing that thousands of women, many middle-aged or older, are struggling through life with undiagnosed autism.

TV stars Melanie Sykes, Chris Packham and Christine McGuinness recently shared their own autism diagnoses as adults, raising awareness of the disorder.

If you think you or your child has signs of autism, the NHS advises you to talk to your GP, a health visitor if your child is under five, or another doctor or therapist. A professional can refer you to an autism specialist for evaluation.