The Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) was developed to assess the prevalence of Asperger Syndrome and high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This child stands out as different from other children of his/her age in the following way:

  No Somewhat Yes
1. is old-fashioned or precocious
2. is regarded as an “eccentric professor” by the other children
3. lives somewhat in a world of his/her own with restricted idiosyncratic intellectual interests
4. accumulates facts on certain subjects (good rote memory) but does not really understand the meaning
5. has a literal understanding of ambiguous and metaphorical language
6. has a deviant style of communication with a formal, fussy, old-fashioned or “robot-like” language
7. invents idiosyncratic words and expressions
8. has a different voice or speech
9. expresses sounds involuntarily; clears throat, grunts, smacks, cries or screams
10. is surprisingly good at some things and surprisingly poor at others
11. uses language freely but fails to make adjustment to fit social contexts or the needs of different listeners
12. lacks empathy
13. makes naive and embarrassing remarks
14. has a deviant style of gaze
15. wishes to be sociable but fails to make relationships with peers
16. can be with other children but only on his/her terms
17. lacks best friend
18. lacks common sense
19. is poor at games: no idea of cooperating in a team, scores “own goals”
20. has clumsy, ill coordinated, ungainly, awkward movements or gestures
21. has involuntary face or body movements
22. has difficulties in completing simple daily activities because of compulsory repetition of certain actions or thoughts
23. has special routines: insists on no change
24. shows idiosyncratic attachment to objects
25. is bullied by other children
26. has markedly unusual facial expression
27. has markedly unusual posture
Sources
  1. S Ehlers, C Gillberg, L Wing. J Autism Dev Disord. ; 29(2): 129141.