⚠ The AQ is a screening and self-reflection tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A score of 32+ suggests clinically significant autistic traits, but does not by itself mean you are autistic; scores can also be raised by ADHD, anxiety, burnout or trauma. Crucially, a score below the threshold does not rule autism out — the AQ was normed largely on men and under-detects women and people who mask. Use it as a starting point, alongside other tools and, if you want it, a professional — not as a verdict.