Do I Have Autism? Symptoms, Self-Assessment, and Diagnosis

You’ve spent years feeling like everyone else picked up a social rulebook that you somehow missed, or you’ve always preferred your own company and noticed sounds others ignore. If you’ve typed “do I have autism” into a search bar, this guide sorts through the signs, screening tools, and path to a formal diagnosis.

Adults with autism in the US: 1 in 45 ·
Average age of diagnosis for children: 4.5 years ·
Global prevalence: 1 in 100 ·
Employment rate for autistic adults: 14%

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition (NHS Lothian (regional health authority))
Early intervention improves outcomes (NHS (UK national health service))

2What’s unclear

Exact causes of autism are not fully understood (NHS (UK national health service))
Why some individuals have mild vs severe symptoms (NHS (UK national health service))

3Timeline signal

NHS adult autism page updated July 2026 (NHS (UK national health service))
AQ-10 adult screening tool updated July 2026 (Clinical Partners / Autism Research Centre (specialist diagnostic service))

4What’s next

Take a validated screening test like the AQ-10 (Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust (NHS hospital trust))
Book a GP appointment to discuss referral (Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust (NHS hospital trust))

Six key facts about autism in adults, drawn from official health sources:

Fact	Value
Diagnostic criteria	DSM-5 and ICD-11 (NHS Lothian (regional health authority))
Age of onset	Early childhood, but may be recognized later (NHS (UK national health service))
Prevalence in children	1 in 36 (CDC, 2023)
Prevalence in adults	1 in 45 (estimated)
Gender ratio	4:1 male to female (but underdiagnosis in females)
Recommended screening tool	AQ-10 for adults (NHS Lothian (regional health authority))