Supervised Machine Learning for a Novel Autism Prediction Tool in Adults

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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Brandsen, S., Hallur, S., Andrews, I., Naqvi, M., Zhou, S., Boheler, J., & Chandrasekhar, T. (2024). Supervised Machine Learning for a Novel Autism Prediction Tool in Adults [Preprint]. Center for Open Science. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/89r3u

Publication date: 13 Dec 2024 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Preprint Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
7
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 7 (14.3%)
  1. Sam Brandsen *
  2. Shreyas Hallur
  3. Isabelle Andrews
  4. Madeeha Naqvi
  1. Shiru Zhou
  2. Jacklyn Boheler
  3. Tara Chandrasekhar

Abstract

For many late-identified autistic adults, the realization that they are autistic can be a key first step to accessing supportive resources and accommodations and developing self-understanding. We introduce a novel screening tool for autistic traits designed primarily by autistic adults. It includes options to assess masking, sensory processing differences, commonly co-occurring medical or mental health conditions, and questions about social and communication differences and repetitive behavior. We used a simple supervised machine learning algorithm to generate a score predicting whether the individual is autistic. Our results indicate that this algorithm was able to distinguish respondents who are non-autistic from respondents who self-reported being formally diagnosed as autistic. Additionally, our algorithm remained effective in identifying autism in respondents with other under-represented identities. Finally, we separately analyzed the responses of self-identified autistic individuals and found a high degree of overlap in the responses of self-identified and formally diagnosed autistic respondents.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 13:58.

Cited references
22
With a DOI
21
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
0
4 / 22 (18.2%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
0 / 22 (0.0%)
References with detected author names
22 / 22 (100.0%)
Without detected author names
0
Without a structured title
0
Without a stable identifier
0
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
108
From DOI or external metadata
108
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
26 / 108 (24.1%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 82 / 108 (75.9%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
6 / 108 (5.6%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 6 / 26 (23.1%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 6 / 106 (5.7%).
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    OpenAlex
  11. Brandon S. Aylward , Diana E. Gal-Szabo , Sharief Taraman (2021). Racial, Ethnic, and Sociodemographic Disparities in Diagnosis of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder . Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 42(8), 682-689. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health).
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  12. Matthew de Broize , Kiah Evans , Andrew Whitehouse , John Wray , Valsamma Eapen , Anna Urbanowicz (2022). Exploring the Experience of Seeking an Autism Diagnosis as an Adult . Autism in Adulthood, 4(2), 130-140. SAGE Publications.
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