A Gentle Screener for Parents

Does your child prefer to play alone rather than with others?

Does your child avoid or struggle with eye contact?

Does your child seem uninterested in peers or have difficulty forming friendships?

Do they find it hard to understand how others are feeling (empathy or emotional cues)?

Does your child repeat phrases, questions, or lines from shows (echolalia)?

Does your child take things very literally or struggle to understand jokes and sarcasm?

Do they have a flat tone of voice or unusual speech patterns?

Do they have difficulty starting or maintaining conversations?

Does your child have strong, focused interests that they talk about often?

Do they become upset when routines change or plans are disrupted?

Do they repeat actions like hand-flapping, spinning, or rocking?

Are they extremely organized or insist on things being “just right”?

Is your child sensitive to sounds, lights, textures, or smells (e.g., covering ears or refusing certain clothes)?

Do they seek sensory input by jumping, spinning, or crashing into things?

Do certain places (like busy stores or loud classrooms) cause distress or shutdowns?

Does your child experience meltdowns, shutdowns, or sudden emotional outbursts?

Are transitions (moving from one activity to another) especially difficult?

Does your child become overwhelmed when they feel misunderstood, wrong, or pressured?

Is your child highly intelligent but struggles in structured or traditional school settings?

Do they learn best through visual tools, repetition, or hands-on activities?

Are they able to focus deeply on topics that interest them, sometimes to the exclusion of everything else?