Autism Assessment Tools for Aotearoa New Zealand
Validated autism screening tools for NZ psychologists, counsellors, and GPs. With public wait times exceeding 12 months, efficient clinical screening tools are more important than ever. Auto-scored, telehealth-ready, and HIPC compliant.
The NZ Context
NZ Autism Assessment Wait Times Exceed 12 Months
Many regions across Aotearoa face 12-24 month waits for publicly funded autism assessments. Efficient screening tools help practitioners identify individuals who may benefit from comprehensive assessment — reducing delays and improving access to support.
Autism Screening Tools Available
Validated screening tools to support autism assessment in your clinical practice — from quick screening to broader neurodevelopmental evaluation.
AQ-10 Autism Screening
Most PopularThe Autism Spectrum Quotient — 10 items (AQ-10) is a validated brief screening tool for autism spectrum conditions in adults. Quick to administer, with strong psychometric properties for identifying individuals who may benefit from comprehensive autism assessment.
88%
Sensitivity
91%
Specificity
2-3 min
Completion Time
ADHD & Comorbidity Screening
Autism and ADHD frequently co-occur — research suggests up to 50-70% of autistic individuals also meet criteria for ADHD. ClientForms provides both autism screening (AQ-10) and comprehensive ADHD assessment (DSM-5 aligned) in one platform, along with anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9) screening for common comorbidities.
Outcome Monitoring
Track wellbeing and mental health outcomes over time for autistic clients. Routine outcome monitoring with K10, CORE-10, and DASS-21 helps you measure treatment progress and adjust support — an important part of holistic hauora.
Why Efficient Autism Screening Matters in Aotearoa
Long wait times for public autism assessment mean many New Zealanders go undiagnosed for years. Efficient screening tools help practitioners act sooner.
Reduce Wait Times
Validated screening in private practice helps identify individuals who need comprehensive assessment — reducing the burden on public wait lists and getting patients the support they need sooner.
Reach Rural Communities
Telehealth-ready assessments mean practitioners can screen patients anywhere in Aotearoa — from Auckland to the West Coast. Patients complete assessments on their own device, reducing travel barriers.
Support Holistic Hauora
Autism assessment is one part of a holistic wellbeing approach. Combined with comorbidity screening, outcome monitoring, and culturally responsive practice, it supports all dimensions of Te Whare Tapa Whā.
How Autism Screening Works
Create your free account
Sign up in 2 minutes. Set New Zealand as your country and accept terms. No credit card needed — your free tier includes 10 responses.
Choose your screening tool
Select AQ-10 for a quick autism screen, or combine with ADHD assessment and comorbidity tools for a broader neurodevelopmental evaluation.
Send to your patient
Generate a secure link and share via email or text. Your patient completes the screening on their own device — at home or before their appointment.
Review auto-scored results
Results are automatically scored with validated clinical cutoffs. Use the structured output to inform your clinical discussion and determine whether comprehensive assessment is warranted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are autism assessment wait times in New Zealand?
Public autism assessment wait times in Aotearoa can be 12 months or longer, depending on the region. Some Te Whatu Ora areas report waits of 18-24 months for publicly funded ASD assessments. Private practitioners using validated screening tools can provide initial screening much sooner, helping patients access support earlier.
What is the AQ-10 and how accurate is it?
The AQ-10 (Autism Spectrum Quotient — 10 items) is a brief, validated screening tool with 88% sensitivity and 91% specificity for identifying autism spectrum conditions in adults. It takes 2-3 minutes to complete and is widely used as an initial screening measure before comprehensive diagnostic assessment.
Can I screen for both autism and ADHD?
Yes. Autism and ADHD frequently co-occur — research suggests 50-70% of autistic individuals also meet ADHD criteria. ClientForms provides both autism screening (AQ-10) and comprehensive ADHD assessment (DSM-5 aligned) on the same platform, along with anxiety and depression screening tools.
Is the AQ-10 a diagnostic tool?
The AQ-10 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A positive screen indicates the individual may benefit from comprehensive autism assessment. It helps practitioners efficiently identify who should be referred for or proceed to full diagnostic evaluation.
Is my patient data protected under NZ privacy law?
Yes. ClientForms is built to comply with the NZ Privacy Act 2020 and Health Information Privacy Code 2020 (HIPC). All clinical data is hosted in Australia (Sydney) — a jurisdiction with comparable privacy safeguards under IPP 12. No data is sent to the US or EU.
Start Autism Screening Today
Join practitioners across Aotearoa New Zealand using ClientForms for efficient, validated autism screening. Free tier available — no credit card required.