Maybe you have filled in an autism questionnaire late at night, then wondered what the number meant. Maybe it did not sound like you at all. This study takes that feeling seriously. It does not offer a magic form. It shows why one form can never hold a whole life.
- None of the five forms covered everything for this group of autistic women.
- Masking was one of the things people felt the forms should ask about.
- A questionnaire score is not a diagnosis.
Questions you can take with you
You do not need to become an expert. These questions can help you talk with a professional or support provider.
- Does this question leave out part of my experience?
- What would I want a professional to understand beyond a score?
- Can I bring notes about my childhood, sensory life or exhaustion after coping?
Want the study details?Sample, method and evidence type
- Autistic women
- 33
- Professionals
- 33
- Questionnaires reviewed
- 5
Read on for what was studied, what was found and what remains uncertain.
Why a form can feel too small
Some people spend years learning how to get through school, work or appointments by hiding what is hard. A short questionnaire can be useful. It can also miss that effort, the exhaustion after it, and the parts of daily life a person has learned not to mention.
This study listened to autistic women as well as academics and clinicians. It asked whether items in five commonly used self-report questionnaires felt relevant to autistic women’s experiences.
What the group said
Thirty-three autistic women and 33 academics or clinicians took part. They reviewed items from five questionnaires. The RAADS-14 and CATI were judged more relevant than the others in this group, but none was considered to cover the whole picture. Questions about masking were among the things participants wanted to see included.
That is an important message, but a narrow one. These were people’s considered views of questionnaire items. The study did not test whether a questionnaire can correctly diagnose autism, or compare it with a full clinical assessment.
Not a ‘best test’ list
It would be easy to turn this into a headline saying one form is the best for women. The researchers do not show that. A score is not a diagnosis, and a low score does not erase a person’s experience. A high score does not settle every question either.
A careful assessment, when someone wants one, should be able to hear their own story: childhood, relationships, sensory life, energy, coping, and what happens when they are no longer holding everything together. No single form can do all of that work.
What may be useful right now
If a questionnaire helps someone find words for their experience, it can be a starting point for a conversation. It is not a pass-or-fail gate. Keeping notes about what has felt difficult, what has helped, and how things have changed over time can sometimes make that conversation easier.
The study’s participants were mostly Western, White and highly educated. That matters. Experiences shaped by race, culture, language, poverty, disability or lack of access may not be well reflected here. More people need to shape better tools.
Limitations to keep in view
- This was a small consensus study, not a diagnostic-accuracy study.
- Participants were predominantly Western, White and highly educated.
- Academics and clinicians were grouped together, and not everyone reviewed the same questionnaires.
Are items from current self-report measures adequate for assessing autistic traits in women? Insights from a modified Delphi study with autistic women and professional experts
Uglik-Marucha N, Fredman J, Al-Shurafa T, et al.
Molecular Autism · 2026
This article provides general information and does not replace individualized medical, psychological or educational advice.