The ‘autism wheel’, sometimes referred to as an autism spectrum diagram, is a visual aid designed to help better understand the range of autism traits and how they can affect different people in different ways.
In this article, we’ll explore the concept of the autism wheel, how it can be used to recognise and assess the severity of an individual’s situation, and the many ways it can help support people with autism.
If you think that you might have autism and are seeking answers, we encourage you to contact us. At Oxford CBT, we offer private diagnostic screenings for various conditions, including ADHD and autism tests. An autism wheel test is not a formal diagnosis in itself, but it can be a useful tool in understanding your autism more intimately. If you’d like some more information on autism symptoms and traits, have a look at our article What are the 3 Main Symptoms of Autism in Adults?
What is an Autism Wheel?
The autism wheel is a visual representation that helps to illustrate the diverse challenges faced by individuals with autism. It categorises various symptoms or traits of autism into a wheel-like diagram, showcasing how each one can manifest in different intensities and forms across individuals.
Is the Autism Wheel a Test?
The Autism Wheel is not a test but rather a visual aid or a tool designed to help individuals and healthcare providers identify and understand the range of symptoms associated with autism. It is a method of plotting the severity and occurrence of traits to create a personalised profile, which can be useful for educational and therapeutic interventions.
It’s not the same as other diagnostic criteria that a specialist will use to assess whether someone has autism, such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), or the Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R).
Structure of the Autism Wheel
How It Works
The structure of the autism wheel is designed to provide a clear, at-a-glance summary of how the traits of autism manifest in an individual.
It involves a series of questions, each corresponding to a different symptom or trait associated with autism. These traits are depicted as a separate ‘spoke’ on the wheel. When the answers are compiled, these spokes are then rated on a scale, typically from 1 to 5 or 1 to 10, where each point on the scale represents the intensity or frequency of it. This allows for a nuanced portrayal of how significantly each trait affects the person’s day-to-day life.
The final chart, resembling a multi-spoked wheel, provides a holistic view of an individual’s autism profile. This visual format helps to quickly convey which areas are most challenging and may require additional support or intervention. For instance, if a spoke labelled ‘Social Communication’ is rated very high, it indicates significant challenges in social interactions, which might be a priority area for therapeutic focus.
Autistic Traits
As mentioned previously, the autism wheel includes various ‘spokes’ that represent different challenges commonly faced by those with autism. These are not standardised and can vary, but commonly include the following areas:
Social Difficulties
For individuals with autism, interpreting social cues such as facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice can be challenging. These difficulties can impede engagement in typical social activities like conversation, often leading to isolation.
A low score in this area might mean that a person has only minor issues with social interactions and feels like they can usually cope with everyday conversations, while a high score indicates significant difficulties that could severely impact daily social interactions and relationships.
Anxiety
Anxiety is commonly elevated in autistic individuals, especially in social situations or when routines are disrupted. A low score may reflect occasional anxiety that is manageable without intervention, whereas a high score could indicate frequent, intense anxiety attacks that disrupt everyday functioning and require targeted strategies or therapies.
Communication Problems
Communication barriers can manifest as delayed speech development or difficulty using or understanding non-verbal cues, among other communication difficulties.
If someone reports only minor difficulties in this area, it might mean that challenges in communication don’t often hinder understanding. On the other hand, a high score may suggest major communication challenges that consistently impede their interactions with other people and frustrate their ability to express themselves.
Sensory Sensitivity
Sensory sensitivities, such as those to lights, sounds, and textures, are often heightened in autistic individuals, influencing their daily experiences and affecting their comfort levels. Heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli like noise or light can lead to sensory overload, causing distress – or even triggering a meltdown.
Not everyone is sensitive to the same things, and some aren’t sensitive at all. Others may be uncomfortable in the presence of certain stimuli, but won’t have a severe reaction. The autism wheel test is a good visual depiction of how strongly this affects someone.
Need for Routine
A strong need for predictable routines is a hallmark trait of autism, with disruptions leading to stress and anxiety. A low score in this area suggests some flexibility and adaptability to sudden, distressing changes, while a high score indicates a critical dependence on fixed routines, where even minor changes can cause major distress.
Executive Function
For people with autism, issues with executive functioning might include difficulties in organising, planning or executing tasks. This can impair academic and occupational performance and makes coping with changes or planning for future events particularly challenging.
This ranges from occasional difficulties with complex tasks, manageable with minimal support, to significant struggles keeping up with day-to-day tasks and regular employment.
Restricted Interests or Fixations
One of the most well-recognised traits of autism is restricted interests, sometimes known as ‘special interests’ or ‘fixations’. Intense focus on a narrow field or specific activity can limit exposure to broader experiences, but at the same time, these interests are often a great source of joy and can be a great way to connect with other hobbyists.
In terms of the wheel test, a low score could indicate well-rounded interests with some focused areas, while a high score may mean that an individual’s intense preoccupations could be overshadowing other aspects of life.
Meltdowns
Meltdowns are extreme responses to overwhelm, often resulting from unmet needs or sensory overload.
Some people have rare meltdowns that are mild and manageable, whereas others might have routine meltdowns that significantly disrupt personal and social functioning. The score on the diagram could reflect either the frequency of these meltdowns (almost never to every day), the intensity of them, or both.
Eye Contact
Challenges with eye contact can affect social interactions, as the avoidance of meeting someone’s gaze is often misunderstood. Many people with autism struggle to make eye contact as it is uncomfortable or distressing, which can have a knock-on effect on other aspects of socialisation and communication.
A low score in this area might mean that the person has slight discomfort with eye contact, but can make eye contact when they need to; either way, it doesn’t significantly impact the person’s social exchanges. If they had a high score, it could indicate a profound difficulty with making eye contact that significantly affects their day-to-day interactions.
Stimming
Stimming, or self-stimulatory behaviour, is a coping mechanism used to manage sensory input and emotions. For some, it can include movements like rocking or hand-flapping, or it can involve sounds or verbal outbursts. These behaviours serve both soothing and expressive functions, helping to manage stress or excitement. The autism wheel can give some indication of how frequently these self-soothing motions occur.
Benefits of the Autism Wheel Test
Enhanced Self-Awareness
An autism wheel is a powerful tool for enhancing self-awareness among people with autism. By mapping out various traits and their intensities, it enables someone to recognise and articulate their specific challenges and needs. This heightened awareness is crucial, as it empowers them to communicate their experiences more effectively and seek appropriate support and accommodations.
Understanding their own unique expression of the autism spectrum can also foster greater self-acceptance and self-advocacy.
Supporting Therapeutic and Educational Interventions
For therapists and educators, an autism wheel provides invaluable insights into the unique profiles of their clients or students. This detailed understanding aids in developing more effective, personalised interventions and support strategies. Autism is not a one-size-fits-all condition, and one person’s challenges will not be exactly the same as another’s.
By knowing which areas are most difficult or distressing for an individual, professionals can tailor their approach, ensuring that they address specific needs in the most effective way they can.
Empowering Families and Caregivers
The autism wheel helps families and caregivers gain a deeper understanding of an autistic individual’s experiences and challenges. This understanding is vital for building empathy and providing the right kind of support at the right time.
With a clearer view of the difficulties faced by their loved ones – and their strengths – families can better advocate for them and ensure that their home environment accommodates their needs.
Improving Communication Within Support Networks
One of the most significant benefits of the autism wheel is its role in facilitating communication between autistic individuals and their broader support networks, including healthcare providers, educators, and social workers.
By providing a visual representation of how an individual’s autism affects them, it serves as a conversation starter and a reference point that can help all parties involved understand and discuss their specific challenges and how they can be addressed.
This enhanced communication is essential for coordinating effective person-centred support and ensuring that interventions are consistent and comprehensive across different environments and caregivers [1].
Using the Results of an Autism Wheel Test
The results from an autism wheel can help individuals understand their unique manifestation of autism, identifying which areas are most challenging. This understanding can guide personal growth and target interventions to areas that cause the most distress or difficulty.
For example, if someone scores highly on ‘Sensitivity to Noise,’ practical steps can be taken to minimise exposure to noisy environments, or coping strategies, like carrying ear defenders, can be introduced. These simple changes can make a huge difference to a person who struggles with sensory stimuli. If you feel comfortable sharing this autism wheel, schools and workplaces can use this information to help provide accommodations.
It isn’t just small lifestyle changes that the autism wheel can help with. Let’s take the example of a diagram that indicates severe ‘Social Difficulties’ as a result of autism. This might prompt a focused approach such as social skills training or therapy to enhance interpersonal interactions and give the individual confidence in everyday interactions.
The ultimate goal of the autism wheel (like many other tools in a specialist’s toolkit) is helping to create an environment where a person with autism can thrive.
Common Questions About the Autism Wheel Test
Who Should Use the Autism Wheel Test?
While it is not a diagnostic tool, the autism wheel is beneficial for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how autism might manifest in themselves or others. It is particularly useful for educators and therapists in planning support strategies [2,3].
If you have autism, you might create a diagram like this as the result of an online quiz or questionnaire. This can help you form a better picture of your own well-being, which can lead to new ideas to improve your situation and help you cope.
Is the Autism Wheel Test a Diagnostic Tool?
No, the autism wheel is not a diagnostic tool. It is a descriptive tool that provides insights into a person’s experience of autism.
It may be used alongside other questionnaires and assessments to build a more complete picture, as well as to better explain how autism can affect someone’s everyday life in different ways.
What Are the Limitations of the Autism Wheel Test?
The autism wheel is a helpful visualisation tool but it has some limitations. It cannot replace a full medical diagnosis since it relies on subjective, self-reported traits. This means there can be inaccuracies due to misunderstanding or bias in reporting.
Moreover, the diagram may oversimplify the complex nature of autism. It might not capture all the details of an individual’s condition, potentially leading to misunderstandings about their needs.
Also, because it mainly focuses on symptoms reported by the person themselves, it may miss underlying causes or related conditions. This is different from professional diagnoses, which involve detailed assessments by teams of experts to understand the condition fully.
Conclusion
While the autism wheel is not a formal diagnostic tool, it can offer significant benefits to individuals with autism and their support network. It’s a fantastic way to visualise and understand the spectrum of autism traits, as it’s easy to digest how they affect someone’s day-to-day life when they’re laid out on a scale.
An autism wheel can serve as a starting point for seeking further support and interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which can be crucial for managing wellbeing.
If you suspect you or someone you love may have autism, this tool can be a helpful resource in beginning to understand various aspects of the condition. However, for a formal diagnosis and tailored treatment plan, professional consultation is recommended.
We encourage you to contact us at Oxford CBT for comprehensive support. Our specialists are ready to assist you with screenings, diagnoses, and tailored treatment plans for individuals of all ages.
Contact us today to begin your journey towards improved mental health and well-being.
References
- Howlin, P., & Moss, P. (2012). Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 57(5), 275-283. Available at: (King’s College London).
- National Autistic Society: Strategies and interventions
- Autism Education Trust: Resources to Support Autistic Children and Young People
Author – Tom Murfitt
With over a decade’s experience in providing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Tom has worked in both the NHS and private sector to help adults and children to overcome a range of difficulties and improve their mental wellbeing. In addition to being an experienced CBT therapist, Tom is also an accredited Mindfulness teacher, providing courses locally, in businesses and schools. You can read more about us here.
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