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A London GP’s short TikTok demonstrating prompts from the AQ-10 has prompted fresh scrutiny over claims that low scores can ‘rule out’ autism. Clinicians warn the ten-item screener is a triage tool, not a diagnosis, and say limited negative predictive value, rising adult referrals, long NHS waits and gendered camouflaging risk mean low scores should not be taken as definitive reassurance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A London GP\u2019s short TikTok explaining a quick autism screening tool has reignited debate about how best to spot autistic traits \u2014 and what a positive answer on a checklist actually means. The Daily Mail reported that Dr Sermed Mezher, who practises in the capital, demonstrated a set of prompts drawn from a commonly used adult questionnaire and told viewers: \u201cScores of six or less make autism unlikely.\u201d The clip has been widely shared, reflecting both public interest and frustration as demand for formal assessments surges. (The original report referred to an \u201cAQ\u201119\u201d test; the better\u2011known brief screener for adults is a ten\u2011item form.) <\/p>\n
Brief screening tools are designed to act as a first step, not a diagnosis. According to the Autism Research Centre, the ten\u2011item Adult Autism\u2011Spectrum Quotient (AQ\u201110) was developed to flag traits that may merit a full clinical assessment; downloadable versions and scoring guidance are published for clinicians and researchers. The centre stresses that high scores indicate the presence of more autistic traits but that the questionnaire is a prompt to further investigation and should be interpreted alongside a person\u2019s developmental history and clinical judgement. Academic evaluation supports that caution. A clinic\u2011based study of the AQ\u201110 found it can have reasonable sensitivity \u2014 it picks up many people who go on to receive a diagnosis \u2014 but specificity and negative predictive value are limited, meaning a low score does not reliably exclude autism. The researchers concluded the short form cannot replace a full clinical assessment and warned against using it as the sole gatekeeper for referrals. That caveat matters because diagnostic demand has ballooned. NHS Digital\u2019s official figures show that in December 2024 more than 212,900 people in England had an open referral for suspected autism and that around nine in ten had been waiting longer than the 13 weeks recommended by NICE. The National Autistic Society has summarised this data and, in a February 2025 briefing, called for urgent government action and ring\u2011fenced funding to tackle the backlog and the human cost of long waits. Part of the rise in adults seeking assessment reflects changing recognition rather than a sudden increase in prevalence. Historically, autism was seen as a predominantly male condition, but experts now point to gendered biases in assessment. Research into camouflaging \u2014 the range of strategies some autistic people, particularly females, use to mask social differences \u2014 finds higher reported levels among women and links camouflaging with worse mental\u2011health outcomes, including increased anxiety and depression. Those strategies can make clinical features harder to detect and help explain why many women were missed in earlier diagnostic practice. Public discussion has also focussed on everyday behaviours. Professor Ahmed Hankir, a UK\u2011based psychiatrist, highlighted in a separate social\u2011media overview that stimming (repetitive movements or sounds), sensory sensitivities, emotional dysregulation and intense interests are commonly reported features in autistic women \u2014 although the way those features present can differ from stereotyped male patterns. NHS guidance frames stimming and meltdowns as self\u2011regulation responses rather than problems to be suppressed, and offers practical advice on safety, reducing triggers and when to seek professional help. For clinicians and the public, the practical takeaway is straightforward: short questionnaires can be a helpful prompt but are not a substitute for a full assessment. If someone\u2019s answers suggest autistic traits, a referral to a specialist assessment remains the appropriate next step; equally, a low score should not be taken as definitive reassurance if concerns persist. Given current backlog pressures, charities and the NHS recommend using available guidance and local support while awaiting formal assessment \u2014 and policy groups continue to press for resources to shorten the queues and broaden access to multidisciplinary diagnostic services.
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