RAADS–R

20 min read Original article ↗

Many autistic adults find the RAADS-R when they’re trying to understand patterns in themselves that never quite made sense. They might be wondering:

  • Why do I feel different from other people in ways I can’t quite explain?
  • Why do certain social situations feel harder than they seem for others?
  • Could this be autism?

The RAADS–R is one way to begin exploring those questions. It’s a self-report questionnaire designed to identify autistic traits in adults, including some autistic adults whose traits may be less externally visible, including those who camouflage or mask their autistic traits.

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

Basic information
Who it’s for: Adults (16+) who suspect they may be autistic, were missed earlier in life, or relate to autistic traits.
Length: 10–30 minutes
Statements: 80
Purpose: To identify patterns in four areas related to autism traits in adults.

Take the test here:

This test is free, anonymous, and requires
no email sign-up for the results

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  • Some questions reflect outdated assumptions and may not fit every autistic experience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.

Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht pointing at a psychometric test.

The RAADS–R

Please read each statement below and choose the answer that best fits your experiences during social interactions.

1. I am a sympathetic person.
2. I often use words and phrases from movies and television in conversations.
3. I am often surprised when others tell me I have been rude.
4. Sometimes I talk too loudly or too softly, and I am not aware of it.
5. I often don't know how to act in social situations.
6. I can 'put myself in other people's shoes.'
7. I have a hard time figuring out what some phrases mean, like 'you are the apple of my eye.'
8. I only like to talk to people who share my special interests.
9. I focus on details rather than the overall idea.
10. I always notice how food feels in my mouth. This is more important to me than how it tastes.
11. I miss my best friends or family when we are apart for a long time.
12. Sometimes I offend others by saying what I am thinking, even if I don't mean to.
13. I only like to think and talk about a few things that interest me.
14. I'd rather go out to eat in a restaurant by myself than with someone I know.
15. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be someone else.
16. I have been told that I am clumsy or uncoordinated.
17. Others consider me odd or different.
18. I understand when friends need to be comforted.
19. I am very sensitive to the way my clothes feel when I touch them. How they feel is more important to me than how they look.
20. I like to copy the way certain people speak and act. It helps me appear more normal.
21. It can be very intimidating for me to talk to more than one person at the same time.
22. I have to 'act normal' to please other people and make them like me.
23. Meeting new people is usually easy for me.
24. I get highly confused when someone interrupts me when I am talking about something I am very interested in.
25. It is difficult for me to understand how other people are feeling when we are talking.
26. I like having a conversation with several people, for instance around a dinner table, at school or at work.
27. I take things too literally, so I often miss what people are trying to say.
28. It is very difficult for me to understand when someone is embarrassed or jealous.
29. Some ordinary textures that do not bother others feel very offensive when they touch my skin.
30. I get extremely upset when the way I like to do things is suddenly changed.
31. I have never wanted or needed to have what other people call an 'intimate relationship.'
32. It is difficult for me to start and stop a conversation. I need to keep going until I am finished.
33. I speak with a normal rhythm.
34. The same sound, color or texture can suddenly change from very sensitive to very dull.
35. The phrase 'I've got you under my skin' makes me uncomfortable.
36. Sometimes the sound of a word or a high-pitched noise can be painful to my ears.
37. I am an understanding type of person.
38. I do not connect with characters in movies and cannot feel what they feel.
39. I cannot tell when someone is flirting with me.
40. I can see in my mind in exact detail things that I am interested in.
41. I keep lists of things that interest me, even when they have no practical use (for example sports statistics, train schedules, calendar dates, historical facts and dates).
42. When I feel overwhelmed by my senses, I have to isolate myself to shut them down.
43. I like to talk things over with my friends.
44. I cannot tell if someone is interested or bored with what I am saying.
45. It can be very hard to read someone's face, hand and body movements when they are talking.
46. The same thing (like clothes or temperatures) can feel very different to me at different times.
47. I feel very comfortable with dating or being in social situations with others.
48. I try to be as helpful as I can when other people tell me their personal problems.
49. I have been told that I have an unusual voice (for example flat, monotone, childish, or high-pitched).
50. Sometimes a thought or a subject gets stuck in my mind and I have to talk about it even if no one is interested.
51. I do certain things with my hands over and over again (like flapping, twirling sticks or strings, waving things by my eyes).
52. I have never been interested in what most of the people I know consider interesting.
53. I am considered a compassionate type of person.
54. I get along with other people by following a set of specific rules that help me look normal.
55. It is very difficult for me to work and function in groups.
56. When I am talking to someone, it is hard to change the subject. If the other person does so, I can get very upset and confused.
57. Sometimes I have to cover my ears to block out painful noises (like vacuum cleaners or people talking too much or too loudly).
58. I can chat and make small talk with people.
59. Sometimes things that should feel painful are not (for instance when I hurt myself or burn my hand on the stove).
60. When talking to someone, I have a hard time telling when it is my turn to talk or to listen.
61. I am considered a loner by those who know me best.
62. I usually speak in a normal tone.
63. I like things to be exactly the same day after day and even small changes in my routines upset me.
64. How to make friends and socialize is a mystery to me.
65. It calms me to spin around or to rock in a chair when I'm feeling stressed.
66. The phrase, 'He wears his heart on his sleeve,' does not make sense to me.
67. If I am in a place where there are many smells, textures to feel, noises or bright lights, I feel anxious or frightened.
68. I can tell when someone says one thing but means something else.
69. I like to be by myself as much as I can.
70. I keep my thoughts stacked in my memory like they are on filing cards, and I pick out the ones I need by looking through the stack and finding the right one (or another unique way).
71. The same sound sometimes seems very loud or very soft, even though I know it has not changed.
72. I enjoy spending time eating and talking with my family and friends.
73. I can't tolerate things I dislike (like smells, textures, sounds or colors).
74. I don't like to be hugged or held.
75. When I go somewhere, I have to follow a familiar route or I can get very confused and upset.
76. It is difficult to figure out what other people expect of me.
77. I like to have close friends.
78. People tell me that I give too much detail.
79. I am often told that I ask embarrassing questions.
80. I tend to point out other people's mistakes.

Getting your score is free and anonymous

You can download the PDF if you like

What do my scores mean?

Score range Interpretation
Below 65 Your responses fall below the original research threshold for autism-related traits. Some individual traits may still be present. Some autistic people may still score below this threshold due to factors such as masking, interpretation differences, or individual variation

What to do next: If you still relate to autistic experiences, you may want to explore other factors (e.g., anxiety, ADHD, or burnout) or take additional screeners (e.g., AQ, CAT-Q). This is the original research threshold, although newer studies have suggested it may have lower specificity in some clinical populations.
65–105 Your responses show some autism-related traits, though scores in this range are less specific and can overlap with ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, or other experiences.

What to do next: This range often overlaps with things like ADHD, anxiety, burnout, or masking, so it can be a starting point for exploring what best explains your experience. You can also take additional screeners (e.g., AQ, CAT-Q). Some research suggests using 81 as a threshold.
106–149 Your responses show stronger alignment with autism-related traits and may warrant fuller clinical interpretation within the context of your broader life experiences.

What to do next: Many people in this range explore further through additional screeners (e.g., AQ, CAT-Q) or a structured autism screening to better understand their experiences. Some newer research has suggested higher thresholds, such as 121, may improve specificity in certain clinical populations.
150+ Very strong alignment with autistic traits.

What to do next: Many people in this range explore further through additional screeners (e.g., AQ, CAT-Q) or a structured autism screening to better understand their experiences.

Understanding your RAADS–R score

Your score reflects patterns across four areas. These areas are useful descriptively, although some newer psychometric research suggests the RAADS–R may function more as a broad autism-trait measure rather than four fully separate dimensions.

Social relatedness

How you experience connection with others, including:

  • Feeling out of sync in conversations
  • Not knowing what’s expected socially
  • Finding social interaction effortful or confusing
Language

How you communicate and interpret meaning, including:

  • Taking things literally
  • Missing implied meaning or tone
  • Needing more time to process conversations
Sensory/motor

How you experience your body and environment, including:

    • Sensitivity to noise, light, textures, or movement
    • Feeling overwhelmed in busy environments
    • Repetitive movements or needing physical regulation
Circumscribed interests

How you focus and engage with interests, including:

  • Deep, sustained focus on specific topics
  • Strong need for routine or predictability
  • Difficulty shifting attention once engaged

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 context.

Not all autistic people score above the threshold, and not everyone who scores above the threshold is autistic.

Some newer research has suggested using higher thresholds to improve specificity, because scores above the original threshold can also occur in people with overlapping experiences such as ADHD, anxiety, trauma, depression, or autistic burnout. This is why broader clinical interpretation remains important.

Should I consider an autism assessment?

A RAADS–R score can be a helpful starting point, but it cannot tell you whether autism is the best explanation for your experiences.
A structured autism screening assessment may be worth considering if:

  • You have felt different from others for much of your life
  • You strongly relate to autistic experiences
  • Social situations, communication, or relationships have often felt confusing or effortful
  • Sensory differences affect your daily life
  • You have wondered whether autism, ADHD, anxiety, trauma, burnout, or masking best explains your experiences
  • You are seeking clarity, accommodations, or a better understanding of yourself

Our autism screening assessment is designed for adults, including late-identified and high-masking people, who want clinical interpretation of their traits and experiences.

Wondering what to do next?


Autism Screening Assessment

25+ page report • Clinical interpretation • Designed for adults

Many people pursue an autism screening because they are unsure whether autism, ADHD, trauma, anxiety, burnout, or masking best explains their experiences.

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

Recommended next steps

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