Think You’re Autistic? Why You Shouldn’t Diagnose Yourself With an Online Quiz

Am I autistic? What about my child?

It’s become increasingly common to turn to the internet, not a healthcare provider, to answer these kinds of important questions. But developmental pediatrician Carrie Cuffman, MD, explains why online autism quizzes can’t be trusted — and what the process of getting real answers looks like.

Limitations of quizzes

Taking an “Am I Autistic?” quiz can give you the language you need to discuss your concerns with your provider — but the answers you’ll get are limited at best.

There’s nothing wrong with taking an online quiz. And it’s natural (and good) to be curious about yourself or your child. Some find taking these quizzes helps them feel more comfortable asking their provider questions.

But the “doctor” part is important: Quiz results should never take the place of a formal diagnosis.

Dr. Cuffman says that even online autism tests that are based on solid science can’t be relied on.

“There’s an assessment for adults called the Autism Spectrum Quotient,” she explains. “It was created for research purposes, but it has since been turned into an online quiz. The problem is that even that quiz was made to be used within the context of a full evaluation.”

When providers do autism assessments, they look at a lot of pieces of information, not just one single test result. They use their training to pull all the data together and arrive at a diagnosis.

Here are some other reasons an autism quiz shouldn’t take the place of a formal diagnosis:

• Self-reporting is unreliable. Doctors assess your strengths and weaknesses in a nonjudgmental way. “The way we perceive ourselves is often flawed and may be very different from how others see us,” Dr. Cuffman says.
• You can’t give nuanced answers. Autism is complex. Multiple choice quizzes? Not so much. When you work with a provider, they’ll ask follow-up questions, request real-life examples and give you the space you need to express yourself.
• Anyone can have traits associated with autism. In the same way that liking a tidy house doesn’t mean you have obsessive-compulsive disorder, having individual qualities or behaviors that are common in autistic people isn’t always clinically significant. While we’re on the subject…
• You can’t be “slightly autistic.” Autism is a spectrum, but the diagnosis is not. “Autistic people — even those categorized as ‘level one’ — meet the diagnostic criteria and are impaired by it,” Dr. Cuffman clarifies. “If you don't meet the criteria or you’re not impaired by those traits, it means you aren’t autistic.”

If you decide to take an autism quiz, take the results (whatever they may be) for what they are: A helpful starting point for a conversation with a healthcare provider. These quizzes are very common, and Dr. Cuffman reassures that you won’t be the first person to bring them up. You may not even be the first person to do it that week.

Why a professional diagnosis matters

Finding out whether you’re autistic can be helpful on both a personal and a practical level. Dr. Cuffman says it’s worth pursuing because:

• It could be another condition. “Sometimes, it ends up being autism, but a lot of the time, it’s not,” she shares. “We often learn that it’s a treatable mental health issue, or another form of neurodivergence.” It’s also possible that you’re just different — and that’s OK, too!
• Early interventions can help. The sooner children get diagnosed with autism, the earlier they’re able to receive focused development services and support. And decades of research show that early access to autism therapies can positively affect their quality of life in the long term.
• It helps you connect with support services. “Autistic folks often have issues with executive functioning, which makes completing everyday tasks more difficult,” Dr. Cuffman explains. “A diagnosis can make it easier to get help from a health coach or mental health provider.”
• Assistance can make a difference. “Learning that you’re autistic can help you better understand your own needs,” she continues. And knowing what you need makes it easier to request (and receive) support at work or school.
• Understanding yourself can heal and empower. Some people feel validated when they get a diagnosis that explains their differences. Identifying as autistic — and being proud of it — can connect you with a vibrant community. It may also make it easier to give yourself the grace you deserve, Dr. Cuffman says.

What to expect

Unlike getting an autism diagnosis as an adult, the process is pretty standardized for children.

The diagnosis process for kids starts with a workup by a specialist — usually a developmental pediatrician or a psychologist with expertise in child development. They’ll talk to you and review your child’s medical history.

Once they have the basics, many providers perform a play test called the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). Depending on your child’s age and characteristics, they may also run cognitive or speech-language assessments.

“That’s generally what you can expect for kids. For adults, the process isn’t as clear,” Dr. Cuffman explains. “There is an ADOS for adults, but it’s not always used. Some places use other forms of testing to build the full picture.”

The process is less streamlined, in part, because it tends to be harder to diagnose adults.

“It’s easiest to see developmental differences while you’re still developing,” she adds. “The characteristics may still be there in adulthood, but they can be harder to parse out, especially if you’ve learned how to mask them.”

Final thoughts

It may seem like such a simple question: Am I autistic? But the process of answering that question is complicated.

So, if an online autism quiz gives you the insight or courage you need to broach the subject with a medical professional, go for it! Just don’t put too much stock in the cookie-cutter responses it spits out. Being open with — and trusting — your provider is the surest way to get the meaningful results you deserve.