The RAADS-R: Autism Self-Assessment for Adults

Getting assessed for autism can be intimidating—and often inaccessible. Self-assessment tools are popular ways to bridge the gap between uncertainty and understanding, allowing people to explore their traits on their own time. The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised (RAADS-R) is one screening tool that can help those wondering whether they might be autistic gain valuable insight and direction without a formal diagnosis. 
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“The RAADS-R test was created to help adults who may have gone undiagnosed earlier in life,” explains Angeleena Francis, LMHC, Vice President of Adult Residential Operations at AMFM Healthcare. “It’s used to identify autistic traits in adults with average or above-average intelligence, especially those who might have been missed by childhood diagnostic criteria.”
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If you’re interested in taking the free quiz right now, it’s embedded directly beneath this section.

The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised (RAADS-R) is a self-assessment tool designed to evaluate adults for traits associated with Level 1 autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 
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Level 1 autism was previously referred to as Asperger’s Syndrome, and is one of the three levels of autism support needs laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Individuals with Level 1 autism require the least support of these three groups, and can often function independently with some support. People with Level 1 autism are the most likely to enter adulthood undiagnosed.
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The RAADS-R, introduced in 2011, is a revision of the 2008 RAADS. It was modified to make the assessment more comprehensive and to clarify the wording of some items.

• Statements: 80
• Duration: 10-30 minutes
• Authors: Riva Ariella Ritvo et al.
• Seminal paper: The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS–R): A Scale to Assist the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults: An International Validation Study (2011)

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In addition, the RAADS-14 is an abridged, 14-question version of the RAADS-R.

The RAADS-R consists of 80 prompts that assess for the following traits associated with autism spectrum disorder:

Social relatedness (39 items)

This subscale focuses on how a person relates to others (e.g., social skills, empathy, and understanding social conventions), through:
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• Mentalization: Challenges with understanding and recognizing what others are thinking or feeling.
• Mutual interests: Preferring to be with people with whom you share interests.
• Outsider: Being considered “different.”
• Bluntness: Examples include being called “rude” or asking questions that other people may consider embarrassing, or pointing out when others have made an error.
• Dialectical reciprocity: Challenges knowing when it is your turn to talk, whether it’s a face-to-face conversation or on the phone.
• Emotional reciprocity: Difficulty knowing when, say, a person is flirting with you, or wants to get to know you better
• Auditory processing issues: Challenges talking with several people at the same time.
• Object permanence: Not missing people when they’re not around.
• Maintaining relationships: Challenges in making or keeping friends
• Nonverbal communication: Challenges understanding body language and social cues, making eye contact, etc..
• Mimicry/imitation: Copying others’ behavior to fit in.
• Camouflaging or masking: Hiding your automatic/self-soothing behaviors to fit in with others.
  
  

Circumscribed interests (14 items)

This subscale focuses on the presence of intense, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. It can identify people who exhibit repetitive activities and thoughts, narrowed focus areas, as well as difficulty with routine changes.
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• Details preference: Focusing on details before the big picture, but can do both.
• Upset when the unexpected occurs: A dislike of someone changing your routine.
• Special interests: This can include conversational perseveration, including a difficulty with stopping discussions about preferred interests.
  
  

Language (7 items)

This subscale focuses on a person’s use of language from media (movies, TV, etc), preference for literal language, and comfort with small talk. It can also identify unusual speech patterns such as echolalia (repeating what someone just said) or scripted language from the media. 
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• Movie talk: Friends notice you’ve heard something new because you start using the word or phrase regularly.
• Small talk: A light conversation about unimportant things that people make during social interactions—instead of topics that are actually interesting and fun to talk about.
• Being literal: Having challenges when “what is said” language does not match “what is meant” language.

Sensory-motor (20 items)

This subscale focuses on a person’s sensory sensitivity and sensory experiences, stimming behaviors, differences in speech patterns, and motor control.
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• Voice volume challenges: Talking loudly, not loudly enough, or significant fluctuations between the two.
• Voice differences: Speaking monotone, like a child, or in silly voices.
• Motor control issues: Clumsiness and a lack of coordination.
• Sensory: Sensory stimulation that doesn’t bother others can be painful and overwhelming. The experience can differ significantly at various times or be context-dependent. Example: You may get anxious when overstimulated.
  

The RAADS-R consists of 80 items, and typically takes up to 30 minutes to complete. For each prompt on the RAADS-R, you can choose one of four responses:
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• True now and when I was young
• True now only
• True only when I was younger than 16
• Never true

The RAADS-R was designed for individuals who are:
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• Over the age of 18,
• Have, or suspect they might have, Level 1 or low support needs autism
• Do not have an intellectual disability.

The RAADS-R test is scored out of a possible 240 points, with the lowest possible score being zero. Each item corresponds to between zero and three points. Here’s a quick breakdown:
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• For 63 of the questions, you receive 3 points for “True now and when I was young,” 2 points for “True now only,” 1 point for “True only when I was younger than 16,” and 0 points for “Never true.”
• But for the other 17 questions, which are considered “normative questions,” the scoring method is the reverse. You receive 0 points for “True now and when I was young,” 1 point for “True now only,” 2 points for "True only when I was younger than 16,” and 3 points for “Never true.”

Examples:
Normative question: “I am a sympathetic person.” 

Non-normative question: “I am often surprised when others tell me I have been rude.”

The threshold score is 65, meaning a total score of 65 or higher indicates potential autism. Higher scores indicate a greater alignment with potential autistic traits. The threshold scores for each subscale are:

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• Social relatedness: 31
• Circumscribed interests: 15
• Language: 4
• Sensory motor: 16

“The RAADS-R has been widely studied and is considered one of the more robust self-assessment tools for adult autism screening,” says Francis, though it is still not a diagnostic tool. The RAADS-R has been shown to have a specificity of 100%, meaning no neurotypical individuals in the research scored above the threshold score. It also has a sensitivity of 97%, meaning a small proportion of autistic individuals score below the threshold. In addition, the RAADS-R has a high test-retest reliability of 0.987. 
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“High scores should prompt a professional evaluation rather than serve as confirmation of autism,” says Francis.

Though the RAADS-R cannot provide a diagnosis, it can be a valuable tool for adults wondering whether they might be autistic. Taking the RAADS-R can affirm a person’s desire to seek a formal autism evaluation, which may ultimately lead them to find appropriate support. 

“For many adults, especially those discovering autism later in life, the RAADS-R can be a helpful starting point for understanding their experiences,” says Francis.

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Diagnoses aside, self-assessment tools can also be a great way for a person to gain a deeper understanding of their characteristics and expand their self-awareness. This can be personally rewarding and a meaningful part of many people’s mental health journeys.

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The RAADS-R is also one of the few autism self-assessments explicitly geared toward adults with Level 1 autism (although the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire, or CAT-Q, is also intended for a subsection of this group). Some individuals find that taking the RAADS-R in addition to other self-assessment tools, like the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), provides a fuller picture and captures traits that may not be accounted for by the AQ alone.

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Some research also suggests that autistic women may score higher on the RAADS-R than autistic men, unlike the AQ, where the reverse is true. This may make the RAADS-R a meaningful companion test to the AQ for women exploring whether they might be autistic.
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“Completing [the RAADS-R] can empower individuals to seek a formal assessment or better advocate for themselves in therapy, work, and relationships,” says Francis.
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Criticisms of the RAADS-R
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“Some experts argue that the RAADS-R may over-identify autism, particularly among people with other neurodivergent or mental health conditions that share overlapping traits (such as ADHD, anxiety, or social phobia),” says Francis. 
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The RAADS-R has also been criticized for a lack of nuance and for stereotyping autism. Items like “I like to have close friends” (a “non-symptomatic” question) or “I am considered a compassionate type of person” lean on reductive, stereotyped characterizations of autistic people as cold and unfeeling. Critics have pointed out that these prompts home in on traits that are not actually true for many autistic people, and can feel hurtful to read.

“Others point out that the questions can feel repetitive or ambiguous, and that results may vary depending on how literally someone interprets the statements,” says Francis.

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The RAADS-R also doesn’t offer as much comprehensive and gender-specific scoring as a self-assessment like the CAT-Q. This means all nonbinary people, transgender people, and cisgender people will have the same threshold score.  
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Additionally, as with any self-assessment tool, the RAADS-R is limited in scope. It is not a dynamic or comprehensive evaluation, unlike a formal diagnostic interview, where a clinician can explore an individual’s experiences more deeply. Some autistic people also struggle to report on their own traits and experiences, and a clinician specializing in working with autistic adults can ask follow-up questions to help a patient answer questions fully, while a survey cannot.

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You’ve taken the test—what’s next?
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If you would like to discuss your RAADS-R score with a clinician or even talk about a formal autism assessment, Prosper Health can help. Our clinicians are highly experienced in working with autistic adults, and our assessments are 100% telehealth and covered by insurance.

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Prosper Health also offers talk therapy for those looking for ongoing support. Our therapists specialize in supporting autistic adults through the many challenges they may experience, including but not limited to unpacking a new diagnosis or choosing to seek a diagnosis.

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Regardless of where you are and what support you are looking for, Prosper Health can help. Click the button below to get started.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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What is the RAADS-R test used for?

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The RAADS-R test is a self-assessment tool designed to evaluate adults for traits associated with Level 1 autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

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How accurate is the RAADS-R test?

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While a reliable self-assessment tool, the RAADS-R test is not a diagnostic evaluation, and thus cannot be used to confirm an autism diagnosis.

How long does the RAADS-R test take to complete?

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The RAADS-R test takes about 30 minutes to complete. 

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What score on the RAADS-R indicates autism?

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The threshold score is 65, meaning a total score of 65 or higher indicates potential autism. However, the RAADS-R is not a diagnostic evaluation. People seeking an autism diagnosis should visit a clinical professional. 

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What should I do after taking the RAADS-R test?

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If you’re interested in discussing your RAADS-R test score with a clinical professional, Prosper Health can help by way of telehealth autism assessments and/or neurodiversity-affirming therapy.