What questions would you set for an online Autism test?

It must be difficult, in fairness, to set suitable questions for such tests. Most are reasonably decent and fitting, perhaps (often, it's the inflexibility of the multiple-choice answer options that bother me). But some of the questions & answer-options appear loaded, borderline prejudicial or assumptive. Some seem vaguely similar to this:

'If your parents caught fire, would you:

A. Pick your nose.

B. Buy popcorn.

C. Cry until your socks shrank.

D. Toast marshmallows.

E. Hit the firefighters with a mallet, thus confirming complacent opinions that all autists are empathy-free, violent sociopaths.'

If you, as an autist, had to set questions and possible answers, what might they be?

Parents
  • The best questions could be:

    • Do you feel a strong connection to people who are misunderstood, different or otherwise neurodivergent?’
    • Do you feel a strong connection with other autistic people?
    • Is deep conversation more natural and pleasurable for you than small talk?
    • Are you interests more meaningful to you than other people?
    • Do you feel ‘lost’ or ‘lacking purpose’ if you don’t have a focused interest for a period of time?
    • Do you wonder why other people cannot just say what they mean?
    • Do you wonder why others don’t think as deeply/analyse everything in the way that you do?
    • How would you naturally behave when alone? 

    • Do you feel the world intensely?
    • Do you hyper focus or get into flow? What does it feel like? Do you gain immense autistic joy from focusing for hours on end?
    • Do you notice things others do not?
      Do you often wonder why other people behave the way they do?
    • Do you question ‘societal norms?’
    • Do you analyse items in terms of their sensory profile?
    • What is your idea of a perfect day?
    • Were you bored academically at school?
    • Are you autodidactic?
    • How much knowledge have you acquired on your interests? How does that make you feel?

     I could think of more but my list would endless!

  • I replied with a quote but it ended up in the wrong place, sorry!

Reply Children