Understanding your results

You have completed the free autism screening. This guide explains how to interpret your scores and what they mean in the context of clinical autism criteria.

Score Breakdowns

Your screening evaluated traits across two primary domains defined by the DSM-5:

1. Social Communication Score (Questions 1-10)

This domain measures your experience with social interactions, eye contact, nonverbal cues, and relationship dynamics.

• Clinical Threshold: 6 or more symptoms rated "Moderate" or higher.
• What it means: Meeting this threshold suggests that your social processing significantly aligns with the autistic pattern of communication.

2. Behavioral & Sensory Score (Questions 11-18)

This domain measures sensory sensitivities, need for routine, focused interests, and repetitive behaviors (stimming).

• Clinical Threshold: 4 or more symptoms rated "Moderate" or higher.
• What it means: Meeting this threshold indicates that you have the sensory and behavioral traits that are core markers of autism.

Interpreting Frequency (The 5-Point Scale)

We use a frequency scale because many people experience some of these traits occasionally. The "clinical threshold" is met when these experiences are a regular or pervasive part of your life:

• Often / Very Often: These responses indicate a high likelihood that the trait is part of your neurodivergent profile.
• Sometimes: Many neurotypical people experience these traits occasionally, but for autistic people, these are often more intense or frequent.

What "Meets Criteria" Means

If your screening indicates you "meet criteria," it means the number and intensity of the traits you reported align with what clinicians look for when identifying autism.

If you meet the threshold in either domain (or both), it is a strong signal that you may be on the autism spectrum.

Next Steps

1. Reflection: Consider how long these traits have been present. Autism is neurodevelopmental, meaning these patterns usually exist from childhood, even if they were masked.
2. Research: Explore topics like masking and sensory processing to see if they resonate with your lived experience.
3. Professional Evaluation: If you seek formal accommodations or medical support, use these results as a starting point for a conversation with a psychologist or psychiatrist specializing in adult or child autism.