RAADS–R

The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised (RAADS–R) is one of the most widely used autism screening questionnaires for adults. It measures autistic traits across four areas, including social relatedness, circumscribed interests, language, and sensory–motor experiences. While it cannot diagnose autism, it can help you understand whether autism may be worth exploring further.

Many autistic adults come across the RAADS–R when they’re trying to understand patterns in themselves that have always felt hard to explain.

You don’t need to already suspect you’re autistic to find the RAADS–R helpful. Many people arrive here simply because they’ve always felt different and are wondering whether autism might explain some of those lifelong patterns.

They might be wondering:

• Why do social situations seem to require so much more effort for me than for other people?
• Why have I always experienced certain sounds, textures, movements, or sensations so intensely?
• Why do I become so deeply absorbed in particular interests or topics?
• Could this be autism?

The RAADS–R is unusual among autism questionnaires because it asks you to think about both your current experiences and whether those experiences were present when you were younger. This can be particularly useful because autism is developmental—autistic traits begin in childhood, even when they are not recognized until adulthood.

Some questions may also describe experiences you have learned to hide, compensate for, or manage differently over time. When answering, try to think about your underlying experience rather than only what other people can see.

Common reasons people take the RAADS-R

People often arrive here because:

• You’ve always felt different from other people.
• Social situations leave you exhausted.
• You feel like you’re performing rather than being yourself.
• ADHD explains some things, but not everything.
• Your child was diagnosed and you recognize yourself.
• Autism keeps coming up in therapy or while reading about it.

This version is based on the original RAADS–R questionnaire used in research and clinical settings.

Take the RAADS-R

Getting your score is free and anonymous

If you have purchased an Embrace Autism screening, please contact us before completing this test.

Notes on answering the questions

A few things to keep in mind:

Focus on your typical experience, not perfect recall.

• This test was not designed by autistics, so parts of it may feel mismatched to how you process questions.
  • Some questions are worded broadly or vaguely; choose what feels most typical
  • You may notice yourself thinking very literally. Please answer based on how you understand the question
  • Answer based on your internal experience, not just how you appear

• Some questions reflect outdated assumptions and may not fit every autistic experience
• Self-report tools weren’t originally designed for independent use, but research shows they can still be helpful for adults exploring their own patterns.

What do my scores mean?

Remember

Your RAADS–R score is only one piece of the picture.

• Autism is about lifelong patterns, not a single questionnaire.
• No questionnaire can diagnose autism.
• Scores can be influenced by other experiences and conditions, so your score should be considered alongside your broader experiences.
• Understanding yourself usually comes from combining questionnaires, personal reflection, and—if desired—a professional assessment.

How to interpret your score

This test is not a diagnosis and cannot determine whether you are autistic. It reflects patterns in your responses, not your full life experience.

• Some autistic people score below the suggested threshold.
• Some non-autistic people score above the suggested threshold.

The RAADS–R is best understood as a starting point, not an answer.

Your score is most meaningful when considered alongside your lifelong experiences, developmental history, and other questionnaires. Autism is a pattern that develops over a lifetime, and no single questionnaire can capture every aspect of that experience.

Some people finish the RAADS–R feeling that their score fits exactly what they expected. Others are surprised that it is higher—or lower—than they anticipated. Both experiences are common.

If your results leave you with more questions than answers, that’s okay. The purpose of the RAADS–R is not to tell you whether you are autistic. It is to provide another piece of information that may help you better understand yourself.

Understanding your RAADS–R score

Your RAADS–R score includes four areas that describe different patterns in your responses.

Social relatedness

How you experience connection and social interaction with others.

Language

How you communicate and interpret language and meaning.

Sensory/motor

How you experience sensory input, movement, and your physical environment.

Circumscribed interests

How you experience focused interests, routines, and shifts in attention.

Remember: Your score is only one part of the picture

As helpful as the RAADS-R can be, no questionnaire can fully capture the complexity of a person’s experiences.

When interpreting your results, keep the following in mind:

• Autism is about lifelong patterns, not a single questionnaire or score.
• No questionnaire can diagnose autism. Screening tools identify patterns that may warrant further exploration, but cannot determine whether someone meets the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Understanding yourself often comes from combining multiple sources of information, including questionnaires, personal reflection, your developmental history, and, if you choose, professional clinical interpretation.

Your RAADS-R score is best viewed as one piece of a much larger picture. Whether your score is high or low, the most meaningful question is whether autism helps explain your lifelong experiences and whether exploring that possibility would be helpful for you.

RAADS-R Frequently Asked Questions

Can the RAADS-R diagnose autism?

No. The RAADS-R is a screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic assessment. It identifies patterns of autistic traits that may warrant further exploration but cannot determine whether someone meets the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Can I be autistic if my RAADS-R score is below 65?

Yes. While the original research suggested a score of 65 as a threshold, some autistic people score below this level. Factors such as masking, differences in interpreting questions, individual variation, or co-occurring conditions may influence scores. A lower score does not automatically rule out autism.

Can someone score above the threshold and not be autistic?

Yes. Elevated scores can occur in people with ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, personality differences, autistic burnout, or other conditions that overlap with autistic traits. This is why the RAADS-R should always be interpreted within the context of a person’s developmental history and broader clinical presentation.

Does masking affect RAADS-R scores?

It can. Many autistic adults have spent years consciously or unconsciously masking their autistic traits. Some people answer based on how they behave outwardly rather than how they experience the world internally, which may lower their scores. Conversely, some people find certain questions do not fully capture the ways they camouflage their differences.

Should I take more than one autism questionnaire?

Often, yes. No single questionnaire captures every aspect of autism. Many people also complete measures such as the AQ (Autism Spectrum Quotient) and the CAT-Q (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire), which assess different aspects of autistic experience. Looking at several questionnaires together often provides a more complete picture.

Why are there different RAADS-R cut-off scores?

The original validation study suggested a threshold score of 65. Since then, additional research has found that higher cut-offs may improve specificity in some clinical populations. There is no universally accepted threshold, which is why scores should be interpreted alongside an individual’s developmental history, lived experiences, and other assessment information rather than in isolation.

Is the RAADS-R accurate?

The RAADS-R has been widely used in both research and clinical settings and has helped many adults recognize autistic traits. Like all screening questionnaires, however, it has limitations. It should be viewed as one source of information rather than a definitive answer. Clinical interpretation remains important because autism shares characteristics with several other conditions.

What should I do if my score suggests autism?

If your score, lifelong experiences, and personal reflections all suggest that autism may be the best explanation for your experiences, you may wish to pursue a structured autism screening assessment. A screening assessment provides clinical interpretation of your developmental history, questionnaire results, strengths, and challenges, helping determine whether a comprehensive diagnostic assessment is likely to be worthwhile.

How should I answer the questions if I mask?

If you regularly mask or camouflage your autistic traits, try to answer based on your internal experience, not just how you appear to other people.

For example, if you have learned to make eye contact, socialize, or suppress stimming because it was expected of you, consider whether these behaviours feel natural or whether they require conscious effort. The RAADS-R aims to understand your underlying experience, not simply how others perceive you.

If you’re unsure how to answer a question, choose the response that best reflects your typical experience over your lifetime rather than how you have learned to cope or adapt.

More about the RAADS–R

Want to know more about the research and scoring behind this test? Read our more comprehensive post below.

RAADS–R full guide – Coming Soon

RAADS-R Foundational Review

Continue exploring autism

After the RAADS-R, consider taking one of the tests below.

AQ

Identifies adults who often “escape diagnosis”
due to a subclinical level presentation

CAT-Q

Measures camouflaging behaviours,

which may help contextualize lower scores on some autism screeners.

Autism Screening Assessment

25+page report • Clinical interpretation by an autistic psychologist