Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST)

The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) is a screening questionnaire designed to identify early behavioral traits associated with autism spectrum conditions in children. It assesses social interaction, communication patterns, imaginative play, restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and developmental features commonly associated with autism spectrum traits.

The CAST is widely used in research and screening contexts to identify children who may benefit from further diagnostic evaluation. It is not a diagnostic instrument and should not be used alone to determine clinical autism diagnosis.

The scale focuses on observable behaviors in everyday social, communication, and play situations, typically reported by parents or caregivers.

You will be presented with a series of statements describing a child’s behavior. Please answer each item based on typical behavior using Yes or No options. Respond honestly based on your observations.

This assessment is intended for caregivers, parents, or individuals familiar with the child’s behavior. Participation is voluntary and responses should reflect the child’s usual developmental patterns.

Higher scores may indicate stronger presence of autism spectrum-related traits, including differences in social communication, interaction patterns, imaginative play, and behavioral rigidity.

The results provide a percentage-based overview of autism-related trait presence and should be interpreted as a screening indicator only, not a diagnosis.

v1.0 – Initial release of Childhood Autism Spectrum Test module.
v1.1 – Improved social communication dimension mapping.
v1.2 – Enhanced scoring structure and behavioral categorization.
v1.3 – Added clearer caregiver instructions and usability improvements.
v1.4 – Optimized for responsive plugin integration.

Does s/he join in playing games with other children easily?

Does s/he come up to you spontaneously for a chat?

Was s/he speaking by 2 years old?

Does s/he enjoy sports?

Is it important to him/her to fit in with the peer group?

Does s/he appear to notice unusual details that others miss?

Does s/he tend to take things literally?

When s/he was 3 years old, did s/he spend a lot of time pretending (e.g., role play)?

Does s/he like to do things over and over again, in the same way all the time?

Does s/he find it easy to interact with other children?

Can s/he keep a two-way conversation going?

Can s/he read appropriately for his/her age?

Does s/he mostly have the same interests as his/her peers?

Does s/he have an interest which takes up so much time that s/he does little else?

Does s/he have friends, rather than just acquaintances?

Does s/he often bring you things s/he is interested in to show you?

Does s/he enjoy joking around?

Does s/he have difficulty understanding the rules for polite behavior?

Does s/he appear to have an unusual memory for details?

Is his/her voice unusual (e.g., flat or monotonous)?

Are people important to him/her?

Can s/he dress him/herself?

Is s/he good at turn-taking in conversation?

Does s/he play imaginatively with other children and engage in role-play?

Does s/he often do or say things that are tactless or socially inappropriate?

Can s/he count to 50 without leaving out numbers?

Does s/he make normal eye-contact?

Does s/he have any unusual and repetitive movements?

Is his/her social behavior very one-sided and always on his/her own terms?

Does s/he sometimes say “you” or “s/he” when s/he means “I”?

Does s/he prefer imaginative activities rather than numbers or facts?

Does s/he sometimes lose the listener because of not explaining what s/he is talking about?

Can s/he ride a bicycle (even if with stabilizers)?

Does s/he try to impose routines on him/herself or others?

Does s/he care how s/he is perceived by the rest of the group?

Does s/he often turn conversations to his/her favorite subject?

Does s/he have odd or unusual phrases?

Have teachers/health visitors ever expressed concerns about development?

Has s/he ever been diagnosed with developmental or sensory conditions?