A top doctor has revealed the key questions you can ask yourself if you suspect you might be on the autism spectrum – as demand for formal assessments continues to skyrocket.

The prompts are taken from the AQ-19 test, a widely used screening tool for people aged 16 and over, which helps doctors decide whether a full autism assessment is necessary.

In a viral TikTok video that has racked up more than 56,000 views, London-based GP Dr Sermed Mezher said: 'Scores of six or less make autism unlikely.'

The self-report test asks participants to rate a series of statements using responses such as 'definitely agree', 'slightly agree' or 'definitely disagree'.

It explores areas including sensory processing, social interaction, need for routine, and ability to cope with change.

The video comes as NHS waiting lists for autism diagnoses have ballooned, with some patients forced to wait years for an appointment.

According to the latest NHS figures, more than 212,000 people were waiting for an autism assessment as of December last year.

While some critics have argued autism is now being overdiagnosed, others say the rise is due to growing awareness of how the condition presents – particularly in girls and women, who were historically underdiagnosed.

Autism has long been viewed as a predominantly male condition – with earlier studies suggesting a male-to-female diagnosis ratio of 3:1. 

But growing evidence suggests this gap may be down to gender bias in how the condition is recognised and assessed.

One recent analysis estimated that if these biases were accounted for, the true ratio could be closer to 1.8:1.

Experts now believe many girls and women are slipping through the cracks because they're better at masking their symptoms – either consciously or subconsciously – in order to fit in socially.

This 'camouflaging' can involve mimicking social cues, suppressing self-stimulatory behaviours (or 'stimming'), and rehearsing scripted responses for different situations – all of which can make autistic traits harder to detect.

Earlier this year, Professor Ahmed Hankir – a UK professor and consultant psychiatrist working in Canada – shared five common signs of autism in women in a viral TikTok video.

Top of the list was stimming, which refers to repetitive or ritualistic movements such as skin picking, rocking, hand flapping, feet rubbing or hair twirling.

The second he highlighted was emotional dysregulation and meltdowns which he said can be overwhelming.

A 'meltdown' is a physical reaction to an overwhelming emotional or sensory experience and all adults across the spectrum can be vulnerable to them.

The loss of control may be shown through crying, screaming or even physically lashing out.

The third trait he highlighted was camouflaging or aka 'masking' which we previously mentioned.

But he added: 'It can drain their social battery and result in emotional, physical and mental exhaustion, which can then lead to burnout.'

The fourth trait was sensory sensitivity which he explained can involve smells, tastes, pressure touch and sounds. 

Meanwhile, the fifth trait was intense interests, which he revealed, may in fact seem to be 'perfectly normal'. 

But the differences lie in the fact the fact for an autistic person the interest becomes 'almost necessary rather than optional'. 

In comparison to autistic men, who often have focused interests in niche topics such as transport links, girls' intense interests may be more 'socially acceptable'.