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This self-assessment Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) , was originally developed by Jo Williams, Simon Baron-Cohen, Patrick Bolton, and colleagues at the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge. . TraitProfiler provides an interactive digital version for educational, informational, and self-exploration purposes only.

Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST)

Background

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.

Procedure

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.

Participation

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.

Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) Questionnaire

Instructions & Terms

Below is the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST), a digitally adapted 39- items self-assessment questionnaire. This assessment does not provide a clinical diagnosis, medical determination, or substitute for professional psychological evaluation. Anonymous responses may be included in research statistics and normative datasets.



Psychometric Norms

52
Participants
67%
Community Mean
19.3%
Sample SD
95%
Highest Observed Score
26%
Lowest Observed Score
2026–2026
Collection Period

All response data are collected anonymously through Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) and are intended exclusively for educational, psychometric, and non-commercial research purposes. Privacy Policy | Research Statistics

Sources
  1. Simon Baron-Cohen , The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger Syndrome/High-Functioning Autism, Males and Females, Scientists and Mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2001. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005653411471
  2. Anna Smith , Evidence for a pure time perception deficit in children with ADHD. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2002. https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-7610.00043
  3. Jo JWilliams , Autism : the international journal of research and practice vol. 9,1 (2005). The CAST (Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test): test accuracy. 2003. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361305049029