Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ): A Helpful Tool for Autism Screening in Children and Adolescents
Are you wondering if your child or teen might be autistic, and searching for reliable ways to start the evaluation process? At Thriving Wellness Center in New Jersey and New York, we offer compassionate, neurodiversity-affirming autism assessments for adolescents and adults using a personalized combination of gold-standard tools tailored to each individual. One helpful screening questionnaire we may use is the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ)—a quick, parent- or teacher-completed tool that identifies key autistic traits in school-aged kids—but its inclusion is always at the clinician’s discretion based on your family’s unique needs.
A thoughtful parent carefully completes an autism screening questionnaire, taking the important first step toward understanding their child's unique needs and accessing supportive evaluations at Thriving Wellness Center.
Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ): A Helpful Tool for Autism Screening in Children and Adolescents
At Thriving Wellness Center in New Jersey and New York, we provide neurodiversity-affirming autism evaluations for adolescents and adults. Our comprehensive assessments are tailored to each individual, combining clinical interviews, developmental history, direct observation, and evidence-based tools. While the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) is one valuable screening option we may discuss or use when appropriate, it is not guaranteed in every evaluation. The choice of tools—including the ASSQ or alternatives like the SRS-2, SCQ, ADOS-2, or MIGDAS-2—depends entirely on the evaluator’s professional discretion and what best serves the client’s unique needs.
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What is the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ)?
The ASSQ is a 27-item parent- or teacher-completed questionnaire designed to identify traits associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents aged 6–17. Developed in 1993 by Swedish researchers Svenny Ehlers and Christopher Gillberg, and validated in 1999, it focuses on social interaction, communication patterns, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors.
As a screening tool (not a diagnostic instrument), the ASSQ helps identify individuals who may benefit from a full evaluation. At Thriving Wellness Center, we integrate screeners like the ASSQ (when clinically indicated) into our broader assessment process to ensure accurate, compassionate, and affirming results.
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When Might the ASSQ Be Used at Thriving Wellness Center?
Our experienced clinicians select tools based on:
Age and developmental stage
Specific concerns raised by parents or teachers
Need to differentiate autism from conditions like ADHD or anxiety
Availability of parent and teacher input
The ASSQ shines in school-aged children with subtler or higher-masking presentations, but we frequently combine or replace it with other gold-standard measures to create the most personalized assessment plan possible.
Not sure if an evaluation is right for your family?
Contact us—we’re happy to answer questions and guide you through the process.
ASSQ Structure and Key Areas
Large-scale research (Junttila et al., 2023) has identified four main subscales:
Formal Style – Precocious or old-fashioned language and demeanor
Contextual Understanding and Routines – Challenges reading social cues, literal thinking, strong need for routine
Socio-Emotional Reciprocity – Difficulty with back-and-forth interaction and emotional sharing
Vocalisation, Movement, and Appearance – Unique speech patterns, motor mannerisms, or physical presentation
Each item is rated 0 (“No”), 1 (“Somewhat”), or 2 (“Yes”), producing a total score from 0–54.
Scoring and Interpretation
Higher scores indicate more autistic traits, but no single questionnaire determines a diagnosis. Typical benchmarks:
General population: Scores ≥19 place a child in the top ~2%
Clinical samples: Most diagnosed autistic children score ≥19
Our clinicians always interpret results alongside direct observation, detailed history, and other measures for a holistic understanding.
Want to learn more about what happens during an autism evaluation? Check out our detailed guide on Autism Testing, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Reliability and Strengths of the ASSQ
The ASSQ demonstrates strong psychometric properties:
Excellent reliability across time and raters
Good ability to distinguish autism from other conditions
Validated internationally and in diverse populations
These qualities make it a trusted option—when selected—for initial screening in clinical and educational settings.
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Empower your child with tools for emotional regulation, social skills, and safe sexual exploration. Learn more about our individualized therapy programs designed specifically for people with autism.
How Thriving Wellness Center Supports Autistic Individuals and Families
Beyond evaluations, we offer:
Individual therapy for autistic teens, and adults
Parent coaching and family support
Autism Support Group
Executive functioning coaching
All services are grounded in neurodiversity-affirming principles that celebrate autistic strengths and promote self-acceptance.
Discover Autism Support for Families!
Gain practical strategies and guidance to help your teen thrive at home, school, and online. Explore our autism-focused therapy and parent support to get the help your family needs today.
Take the Next Step
At Thriving Wellness Center, we specialize in neurodiversity-affirming care and support for individuals with autism, ADHD in New York, New Jersey, and virtually. Our approach emphasizes understanding and celebrating neurodivergent strengths while providing the tools and support needed to navigate challenges in daily life, school, work, and relationships.
Our neurodiversity-affirming services include:
Comprehensive Autism Diagnostic Evaluations - We provide thorough, evidence-based assessments to help you understand your unique neurodivergent profile. Our evaluations, including Adult Autism Testing, are designed to uncover strengths, challenges, and areas of support, giving you clarity and actionable guidance. This is especially helpful for individuals who were diagnosed late in life or are seeking clarity about ASD traits.
Autism Focused Therapy - Our therapy services are tailored to support social, emotional, and executive functioning challenges commonly associated with autism. We use neurodiversity-affirming strategies to help clients manage sensory sensitivities, improve communication skills, regulate emotions, and develop coping strategies for daily life.
Autism Support Groups - Connecting with others who share similar experiences can be powerful. Our support groups provide a safe, structured environment where individuals can share, learn, and develop skills together. Topics include social interaction, self-advocacy, sensory regulation, and emotional well-being.
