Researchers have announced they are developing a test that could identify if individuals are on the autistic spectrum.
Once it has been fine tuned, they plan to roll it out to UK doctors so that they may implement it with patients, making it easier than ever to reach a diagnosis.
The current test includes questions such as:
Do you like to arrange items in rows or patterns?
Do you repetitively fiddle with items?
Do you get upset about minor changes to objects? Like flecks of dirt on your clothes or scratches on objects.
In the same questionnaire, it asks people how strongly they agree with a series of statements, which include:
I would rather go to a library than a party
I often notice small sounds when others don’t
I usually notice car number plates or similar strings of information.
The test goes further however, asking the individuals to describe the pretend games they played as a child, and what activities they enjoy as an adult.
Repetitive behaviours are identified as being more on the autism spectrum, though this is only ONE symptom from a range, so does not automatically point to the condition.
According to experts, repetitive behaviours such as rocking, hand flapping, jumping, spinning, head-banging etc, can be used by people with autism as a way of dealing with everyday life.
They can be:
An attempt to gain sensory input
An attempt to reduce sensory input
A way to deal with stress and to block out uncertainty.
But repetitive behaviours can also point to other disorders - including OCD, Parkinson’s and Tourette's.
Due to this, the test is meant to be used as a part of the diagnosis, not the be all and end all.
If you’d like to help the researchers developing this diagnostic test, take part here.