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Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST)

This self-assessment is based on Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST), a 39-item self-assessment originally developed by Fiona J. Scott, Simon Baron-Cohen, Patrick Bolton, Carol Brayne, Terrie Vance, Jacqueline Lawson, Richard Skinner. Drdeenz provides an interactive digital version for educational, informational, and self-exploration purposes only. Read More

Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST)

Background

The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) is a behavioral screening questionnaire developed to identify traits commonly associated with autism spectrum conditions in children. The assessment evaluates social communication, imaginative play, repetitive behaviors, social reciprocity, language patterns, restricted interests, sensory-related behaviors, and developmental features associated with autism spectrum traits.

The CAST is commonly used in research, educational, and clinical screening settings to help identify children who may benefit from further developmental evaluation. The assessment focuses on observable behaviors reported by parents, caregivers, or individuals familiar with the child’s everyday functioning.

Autism spectrum traits can vary considerably across children and may involve differences in communication style, social interaction, behavioral flexibility, imaginative abilities, attention patterns, and sensory experiences. The CAST is designed as a screening instrument only and is not intended to provide a formal clinical diagnosis.

Procedure

You will be presented with a series of statements describing a child’s behavior, communication style, interests, and social interactions. Please answer each item honestly based on the child’s typical behavior using the provided response options. There are no right or wrong answers. Honest responses provide the most meaningful screening results.

Participation

This assessment is intended for parents, caregivers, teachers, or individuals who are familiar with the child’s typical developmental and social behavior. Participation is voluntary and responses should reflect everyday observations rather than isolated situations.

Scoring & Interpretation

The CAST is scored using a binary response format (0 = No, 1 = Yes). The total raw score is calculated by summing all responses, with higher scores representing a greater presence of autism spectrum-related characteristics. The 39 items are divided into ten clinical subscales: Social Interaction, Communication Style, Imaginative Play, Repetitive Behavior, Restricted Interests, Social Reciprocity, Behavioral Rigidity, Nonverbal Communication, Developmental Features, and Language Patterns. Subscale scores are standardized to a 0–100 scale for comparative reporting.

Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) Questionnaire

Instructions & Terms

Below is the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST), a digitally adapted 39- items self-assessment questionnaire. Please read each of the following 39 statements describing the child's typical behaviors, developmental milestones, interests, and social interactions. For each statement, choose "Yes" (1) if it accurately describes the child's behavior, or "No" (0) if it does not. Answer as honestly as possible based on consistent, everyday observations rather than isolated occurrences.



Sources
  1. Fiona J Scott , et al. The CAST (Childhood Autism Spectrum Test): Preliminary Development of a UK Screen for Mainstream Primary-School-Age Children. Autism. . https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361302006003003

Version History

v1.0 – Initial release of the CAST module.
v1.1 – Added dimensional behavioral mapping.
v1.2 – Improved developmental trait categorization.
v1.3 – Enhanced caregiver instructions and reporting clarity.
v1.4 – Optimized scoring structure and responsive layout support.
v1.5 – Added expanded social reciprocity and communication dimensions.