Alternatives to the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ)
Free autism screening measures for self-report, parent/caregiver and informant-rated assessment, across child, adolescent and adult populations.
Written by Dr Hilah K Kaufman · Last updated August 2026
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NovoPsych has several autism-related screening measures that may suit your needs.
What to consider when choosing an alternative
When choosing among them, it’s worth considering a few things:
- Respondent: whether you need a self-report, parent/caregiver, or informant-rated measure
- Age group: child, adolescent, or adult
- Purpose: broad screening vs. a more comprehensive trait profile
The alternatives to the ASSQ
For children and teens, CAST (ages 4–11) and AQ-Child (ages 4–11) cover the ASSQ’s younger range, with AQ-Adolescent (ages 12–15) extending coverage through mid-adolescence. For adults, the AQ, CATI, or RAADS-R may be appropriate, with CAT-Q as a useful adjunct for masked presentations. Each measure’s NovoPsych page outlines its intended population and use, which can help you match the right tool to your needs.
A 39-item informant-rated (parent/carer/teacher) screening tool for children aged 4–11 that flags those who may warrant a fuller autism assessment. For adolescents (12–15), pair with the AQ-Adolescent to cover the ASSQ’s full age range.
A 50-item self-report questionnaire measuring the degree of autistic traits in adults (and ages 16+) across five domains: social skill, attention switching, attention to detail, communication, and imagination.
A 50-item parent-report measure of autistic traits in adolescents aged 12–15, across the same five AQ domains.
A 50-item parent-report measure of autistic traits in children aged 4–11, across the same five AQ domains.
A 25-item self-report measure (ages 16+) of how much a person masks or compensates for autistic traits, across compensation, masking, and assimilation — particularly useful for under-recognised presentations in women and gender-diverse people.
An 80-item, clinician-supported self-report screen for autism in adults (18+), spanning social relatedness, circumscribed interests, language, and sensory-motor domains.
A 42-item, neurodiversity-affirming self-report measure of autistic traits in adults across six subscales: social interactions, communication, social camouflage, self-regulatory behaviours, cognitive inflexibility, and sensory sensitivity.
What is the ATEC?
The Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) is a 77-item, caregiver-administered questionnaire that assesses changes in autistic characteristics over time, in children aged 2 and older as well as adults. It covers four subscales — Speech/Language/Communication, Sociability, Sensory/Cognitive Awareness, and Health/Physical/Behaviour — and is designed as a treatment-monitoring tool rather than a diagnostic or screening instrument.
When to use the ATEC
The ATEC is best used after autism has been identified, when the clinical question shifts from “is this autism?” to “is what we’re doing helping?” Because it is brief, caregiver-completed, and free to repeat, it is well suited to measuring change over time rather than making a diagnosis.
Typical uses include:
- Establishing a baseline: capturing a starting profile across the four domains before beginning an intervention, therapy, or support program.
- Monitoring progress: re-administering at regular intervals to track how a person’s presentation is changing.
- Evaluating whether an intervention is working: comparing scores over time to gauge the effectiveness of a specific treatment or support and to inform decisions about continuing, adjusting, or changing approach.
- Pinpointing where change is (and isn’t) happening: using the subscale profile to see which areas are responding and which may need more focus.
- Supporting conversations with families: giving caregivers a concrete, shared way to see and discuss progress and next steps.
As a monitoring tool, the ATEC is designed to complement clinical judgement, and it should not be used to screen for or diagnose autism. For identification, a screening measure such as the CAST or AQ is more appropriate.
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