What can the
RAADS-R results tell me about whether I'm autistic?
Self-identification requires a comprehensive self-assessment, which can include a barrage of self-assessment questionnaires, reviewing content from autistic content creators, learning more about the autistic neurotype, talking to friends and family about your strengths and qualities that might align with being autistic.
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The RAADS-R can provide insight into how many autistic qualities you have, and experiences you share with other autistic people. However, there are limitations with the RAADS-R to be mindful of, including that the possible responses are limiting as they request an all-or-nothing answer that may be difficult for some people to respond to.
What if I don't score as highly as I'd expect?
The RAADS-R has been criticised for not representing those who are high-masking or have an internalised experience of being autistic e.g. those who use appropriate body language, but need to consciously think about how to do so.
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This questionniare may be best suited to people who do not often mask.
When you're finished, click submit and scroll to the top of
the page to see your results.
Rights & permissions
This test is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
Ready to learn more about whether you might be autistic?
What do the scores mean?
In short, the test developers state that any score over 65 indicates that you are likely to be autistic. A score of 130 indicates a strong suggestion that you're autistic, this was the most common score for autistic individuals in the original study. A score of 160 is a very strong indicator, and 227 was the highest any autistic individual scored in the original study.
If your scores put you into the 'autistic category', you can keep exploring whether you are autistic by accessing the resources below:
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We have some options for you to explore that might guide you on your journey:
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Guided Self-Assessment Webinar with our founder, an autistic autism assessor.
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7 Day Self-Identification Challenge Workbook
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Free Introduction to the Autistic Neurotype download
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Articles - both introductory and deep dive packed with research and case studies.
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Formal Autism Assessment within Australia with our sister organisation led by our founder, Say Hooray.
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Learn more about the RAADS-R
An international validation study of the Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R) was completed in 2011, following the development of the original RAADS in 2008. The study involved participants from seven different countries and evaluated the reliability and validity of the RAADS-R in comparison to other diagnostic tools.
The study found that the RAADS-R had high internal consistency and test-retest reliability, indicating that it is a reliable measure of autistic qualities. It also had high convergent validity, meaning that it was strongly correlated with other diagnostic tools commonly used in the identification of autism.
The study suggested that the RAADS-R is a useful tool for the diagnosis of ASD in adults and can be used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools to provide a comprehensive assessment.
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Find the original study here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3134766/
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However, in 2021, a new study evaluated the effectiveness of the RAADS-R as a screening tool for autism in adults. The study found that while the RAADS-R was effective in identifying autistic individuals, it had some limitations such as a high rate of false positives and a tendency to overestimate autistic qualities.
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Find the full study here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8452438/
How and when was the RAADS-R developed?
The RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised) was developed in 2011 by Dr. Eric A. Ritvo, a psychiatrist and autism researcher, along with a team of professionals including clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and educators.
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These questionnaire was administered to a sample of 779 individuals, including both those autistic and non-autistic people, to test the RAADS-R validity and reliability.
The RAADS-R includes items that assess a range of qualities associated with the autistic neurotype, including "social communication difficulties", "restricted interests and repetitive behaviors", "sensory sensitivities", and "cognitive rigidity". (Not very neuroaffirming, is it?!)