The AQ-10 Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10) is a quick questionnaire that primary care practitioners can use to see if a person should be referred for an autism assessment.
Basic information |
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|---|---|
| Statements: | 10 |
| Duration: | 2–5 minutes |
| Type: | brief screening tool |
| Authors: | Carrie Allison, Bonnie Auyeung & Simon Baron-Cohen |
| Publishing year: | 2012 |
| Seminal Paper: | Toward Brief “Red Flags” for Autism Screening: The Short Autism Spectrum Quotient and the Short Quantitative Checklist in 1,000 Cases and 3,000 Controls (Allison, Auyeng, & Baron-Cohen, 2012) |
Take the test here:
Who the test is designed for
- Adults (age 16+) with suspected autism who do not have a learning disability.[1]Toward Brief “Red Flags” for Autism Screening: The Short Autism Spectrum Quotient and the Short Quantitative Checklist in 1,000 Cases and 3,000 Controls (Allison, Auyeng, & Baron-Cohen, 2012)
Versions & translations
The AQ-10 is available in the following languages:
Taking the test
The AQ-10 consists of 10 statements, giving you 4 choices for each statement:
- Definitely agree
- Slightly agree
- Slightly disagree
- Definitely disagree
Note: it makes no difference to your score whether you choose slightly or definitely, so just treat the statements as a binary choice of ‘agree’ and ‘disagree’.
Scoring
- Scoring range: 0–10
- Threshold score: 6↑
- 6+ you might be autistic
- <6 you may not be autistic
- 80% of people designated Asperger’s syndrome score 6 or higher
The AQ-10 is only available as a self-scoring test.
Validity
How reliable, accurate, valid, and up to date is the test?
- The AQ-10 retains the predictive validity of the full 50-item inventory.[5]Toward Brief “Red Flags” for Autism Screening: The Short Autism Spectrum Quotient and the Short Quantitative Checklist in 1,000 Cases and 3,000 Controls (Allison, Auyeng, & Baron-Cohen, 2012)
- The AQ-10 is thus a valuable instrument for rapidly quantifying where any given individual is situated on the continuum from autism to normality.
Discussion
Natalie:
- As a clinician, the AQ-10 allows me a quick two-minute screen to see if I should investigate further for autism spectrum condition. Like many other autistics, I find it frustrating that 4 choices are offered when there are only two as I feel that it wastes my time debating between slightly and definitely.
- I think the test also requires a certain amount of insight into oneself that alexithymia may prevent. The first time I took this test I scored less than 6, and it was only when Martin went through the test with me and pointed out things that were obvious to him, that I realized that I indeed scored higher.
- The CAT-Q may be a good next test to take if you do not score above the threshold.
Kendall:
- If it makes no difference in the scoring, why create indecision with unnecessary choices? Omitting an undecided or don’t know option is a welcome design.
- Statements such as, When I’m reading a story I find it difficult to work out the characters’ intentions, are next to impossible for me to answer. Whether difficult or easy, is something I have no way to compare or contrast.
- That said, the questionnaire is quick to take, easily understood, and the scoring uncomplicated.
Comments
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