Autism checklist

Autism traits and support needs checklist.

Answer a more detailed set of questions to record possible autism traits, support areas and examples to discuss with a GP or assessment professional.

Important

This is not an autism diagnosis and does not replace a formal assessment. Autism is a spectrum, and people can have different strengths, traits and support needs. Instead of outdated "types", this page highlights areas that may be useful to discuss with a GP.

Autism assessment usually considers developmental history, communication, social relationships, sensory needs, daily living, education or work, mental health and individual strengths.

1. Reading social cues

Finding facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, hints, jokes, sarcasm, social rules or unspoken expectations hard to read.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

2. Back-and-forth conversation

Finding small talk, turn-taking, knowing when to speak, changing topics, group conversation or keeping friendships going harder than expected.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

3. Communication style

Preferring direct language, taking things literally, needing extra processing time, finding implied meaning confusing, or communicating better in writing.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

4. Social energy and recovery

Feeling exhausted after social situations, needing long recovery time, avoiding social contact, or feeling overloaded by expectations.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

5. Routines and predictability

Needing routines, sameness or clear plans; feeling distressed by unexpected changes, uncertainty, transitions or last-minute changes.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

6. Focused interests

Strong, deep or highly focused interests that bring joy and knowledge, but may take up a lot of time or be hard for others to understand.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

7. Repetitive movements or regulation strategies

Rocking, pacing, hand movements, repeating sounds or phrases, skin picking, using objects, or other repeated actions to focus, calm or regulate.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

8. Sensory sensitivity

Strong reactions to sound, light, smell, touch, clothing, food texture, crowds, temperature, pain, busy places or unexpected sensory input.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

9. Sensory seeking or sensory needs

Seeking pressure, movement, sound, textures, routines, quiet spaces, headphones, familiar clothing, particular foods or other sensory supports.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

10. Meltdowns, shutdowns or overload

Becoming overwhelmed, shutting down, melting down, going quiet, needing to leave, or being unable to speak or act when overloaded.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

11. Masking or camouflaging

Copying others, rehearsing social scripts, hiding traits, forcing eye contact, suppressing sensory needs, or appearing fine while exhausted inside.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

12. Burnout, anxiety or shutdown after coping

Periods of exhaustion, anxiety, low mood, shutdown, reduced functioning or withdrawal after long periods of coping or masking.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

13. Daily living and organisation

Needing support with planning, appointments, self-care, meals, cleaning, work, study, money, transport or household routines.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

14. Work, study or relationships impact

Traits or support needs affecting school, work, study, relationships, parenting, community participation, appointments or independent living.

Not noticed Sometimes Often Often and affecting daily life

15. Lifelong pattern

These traits have been present since childhood, even if they were hidden, misunderstood, masked, or became more obvious during stress.

No clear lifelong pattern Some pattern or unsure Clear lifelong pattern Clear lifelong pattern with current impact

Notes to discuss with the GP

About autism support areas

Autism is a spectrum. People may have different strengths and support needs across social communication, sensory processing, routines, emotional regulation, daily living, education, work and relationships. A GP can discuss referral options and whether a formal autism assessment may help.

Official information