RAADS-R

Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale — Revised

AutismSelf-reportAges 16+80 statements~16 min

Validated by Ritvo et al. (2011) · View paper

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Jaye Turrietta, PsyD, BCBA-D, AEP

An 80-item self-report designed to identify autism in adults, accounting for how traits may have changed over the lifespan.

For each statement, select when it has been true for you. The options let you indicate whether a trait was only present earlier in life, only now, both, or never.

80 statements · ~16 min · Auto-saved

About the RAADS-R

The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale — Revised was developed by Riva Ariella Ritvo and colleagues (2011) to assist clinicians in identifying autism in adults who often “escape diagnosis” due to subclinical presentations, high masking, or late identification. Unlike other screeners, the RAADS-R captures how traits may have changed across the lifespan by offering four temporal response options.

80 items across four subscales. Originally designed for clinician administration, but self-report provides useful insight. Takes 10–30 minutes.

Subscales & thresholds

Language

7 items

Threshold: 4+

Social

39 items

Threshold: 31+

Sensory-Motor

20 items

Threshold: 16+

Interests

14 items

Threshold: 15+

Scoring

63 items score 3 for “True now and when I was young,” 2 for “True only now,” 1 for “True only when younger than 16,” and 0 for “Never true.” 17 normative items use reversed scoring. The total range is 0–240. A score of 65 or above indicates likely autism — no non-autistic individual in the validation study scored above 64.

Validity

The RAADS-R has exceptionally strong psychometric properties:

Sensitivity: 97%
Specificity: 100%
Concurrent validity: 96%
Test-retest reliability: 0.987

The mean score for autistic adults was 133.8; for non-autistic controls it was 26.0.

Important: The RAADS-R was designed to be administered by a clinician. Self-administration can still provide useful insight, but results should be discussed with a qualified professional for proper interpretation.

Ritvo, R. A., Ritvo, E. R., Guthrie, D., Ritvo, M. J., Hufnagel, D. H., McMahon, W., Tonge, B., Mataix-Cols, D., Jassi, A., Attwood, T., & Eloff, J. (2011). The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R): A Scale to Assist the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults: An International Validation Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(8), 1076–1089.

RAADS-R FAQs

The most common questions about the RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale — Revised).

What is the RAADS-R?

The RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale — Revised) is a 80-item statement self-report screener for autism spectrum disorder in adults. An 80-item self-report designed to identify autism in adults, accounting for trait changes over the lifespan. It was developed by Ritvo et al. (2011).

Who can take the RAADS-R?

The RAADS-R is designed for adults age 18 and up to complete themselves.

How long does the RAADS-R take?

Most people complete the RAADS-R in about 16 minutes. You can pause at any time — your answers are saved in your browser, so you can resume on the same device.

Is the RAADS-R diagnostic?

No. The RAADS-R is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. It is a validated screener that can suggest whether further evaluation is warranted, but only a licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist can make a formal diagnosis. NeuroClarity offers PSYPACT-licensed telehealth autism and ADHD evaluations via telehealth — a doctoral-level psychologist conducts a comprehensive evaluation, with reports typically delivered within days.

Is the RAADS-R free to take here?

Yes. The RAADS-R is free to take on this page. We don't require a sign-up, and we don't collect or share your responses — your answers are saved locally in your browser. You can also export your results as a PDF for your own records or to share with a clinician.

What does my RAADS-R score mean?

After you complete the RAADS-R, you'll see your total score broken into the validated severity / likelihood bands published for this instrument, along with a plain-language interpretation. Specific cutoffs vary by tool — for the RAADS-R, the scoring ranges and band descriptions are shown directly on the results page.

What if my RAADS-R score is elevated?

An elevated score on the RAADS-R is one signal — not a diagnosis. The recommended next step is a comprehensive clinical evaluation. NeuroClarity offers PSYPACT-licensed telehealth autism and ADHD evaluations starting at $950 flat fee with no waitlist; reports are typically delivered within days and include the diagnostic documentation needed for IEPs, ABA prior authorization, and other downstream services.

If your RAADS-R score suggests further evaluation may be warranted, book a comprehensive evaluation with one of our PSYPACT-licensed clinical psychologists. Reports typically delivered within one week.

How the RAADS-R compares to related screeners

The RAADS-R sits at the comprehensive end of adult autism self-reports. Most adults exploring an autism evaluation take it alongside one or more related measures — each captures something slightly different.

RAADS-R vs SQ-R

The RAADS-R and the SQ-R both measure autism spectrum disorder in adults at a similar length (80 vs 75 statements). They originated from different research groups (2011 and 2006 respectively) and emphasize slightly different facets of the construct. Taking both and comparing your scores can be more informative than either one alone.

Take the SQ-R →

RAADS-R vs EQ

The RAADS-R is the more comprehensive of the two — 80 statements (~16 min) versus 60 statements (~12 min). Take the EQ when you want a quick triage; take the RAADS-R when you want subscale detail and a more granular picture. Many adults take both: the brief one first, then the comprehensive one if the brief screen is positive.

Take the EQ →

RAADS-R vs AQ-50

Both are widely-used adult autism self-reports developed by major research programs, and both produce a total score across 4–5 subscales. The AQ-50 (Baron-Cohen et al., 2001) emphasizes trait expression across five dimensions: social skills, attention switching, attention to detail, communication, and imagination.

The RAADS-R (Ritvo et al., 2011) emphasizes lifespan presentation — its four response options ask whether each statement is true now, was true only when young, was true both now and when young, or was never true. That temporal frame catches adults whose traits were more visible in childhood but have been heavily masked since.

A common pattern: take the AQ-50 first for a trait inventory; if elevated, take the RAADS-R for a more clinically-oriented lifespan view. Many clinicians want both at intake.

Take the AQ-50 →

Add this free screener to your site

Educators, clinicians, and organizations are welcome to embed the RAADS-R for free. Copy the snippet below. It keeps a small link back to NeuroClarity.