Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism in Girls: Free Screening Test

The signs of autism in girls are often overlooked and misinterpreted. Answer these questions and share the results with a clinician who specializes in autism in girls. This test may be best suited for girls without intellectual or language disability.

By ADDitude Editors Verified Updated on January 10, 2025
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The signs of autism in girls are too frequently overlooked, misinterpreted, and minimized. That’s largely because autism research to date has focused almost exclusively on male presentations of neurodivergence.

While autistic girls and boys can present similarly, autism in girls generally looks different. The social difficulties that are part and parcel of autism, for example, manifest differently in girls, who tend to be more socially motivated. They may, for example, mask their traits and suppress their challenges to fit in. Girls are also not as likely to demonstrate repetitive or externalizing behaviors. Some autistic traits — like having special interests — are more likely to be regarded as typical in girls. For undiagnosed girls without intellectual or language disability and with low support needs, an autism diagnosis may be difficult to come by.

Think your child may be showing signs of autism? Answer the questions in this self-test and share the results with a medical provider who specializes in autism in girls.

My child very closely observes other girls playing or socializing.

My child can be bossy with other kids and often becomes upset when things don’t go their way.

My child wants friends but has a hard time making them and with maintaining long-term friendships.

My child struggles with the to and fro of conversations that often helps bridge the acquaintance-to-friendship gap.

My child worries a lot. They are often anxious — about doing the right thing, about impressing their teachers, about being left alone, and more.

My child has a hard time regulating their emotions. Meltdowns and tantrums over seemingly unimportant things are common.

My child often prefers to be in their own world, choosing a solitary activity, like reading a book, over playing with others.

My child can be very particular about things. She is set in her ways, and likes her routines, schedules, and preferences. Slight changes may provoke drama.

My child is often the target of bullying.

My child’s fascination with her hobbies and interests runs deep. They are beyond passionate about the things they like.

My child engages in some repetitive behaviors (e.g., hair twirling or chewing, finger tapping, hand flapping).

My child has a unique sensory profile. They are either constantly seeking to stimulate their senses (like through movement and touch) or avoiding sensory input that bothers them (like bright lights and certain sounds).

Can’t see the self-test questions above? Click here to open this test in a new window.

The questions in this autism in girls test are informed, in part, by criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), research literature and screeners on autism in girls and women1 2 3, and from the ADDitude ADHD Experts webinar titled, “AuDHD Guidance: Why Autism is So Difficult to Diagnose in Women and Girls with ADHD” with Karen Saporito, Ph.D. This autism in girls is designed to screen for the possibility of autistic traits and symptoms in girls, especially girls without intellectual or language disability and with low support needs, and it is intended for personal use only. This autism in girls test is not intended as a diagnostic tool.

Signs of Autism in Girls Test: Next Steps

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1 Brown, C. M., Attwood, T., Garnett, M., & Stokes, M. A. (2020). Am I autistic? utility of the girls questionnaire for autism spectrum condition as an autism assessment in adult women. Autism in Adulthood : Challenges and Management, 2(3), 216–226. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0054

2 Bargiela, S., Steward, R., & Mandy, W. (2016). The Experiences of Late-diagnosed Women with Autism Spectrum Conditions: An Investigation of the Female Autism Phenotype. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 46(10), 3281–3294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2872-8

3 Autistic Girls Network (2022.) Autism, girls, & keeping it all inside. https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Keeping-it-all-inside.pdf