Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd Ed
What is the Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd Ed (SRS-2)?
The Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2) is a widely used questionnaire completed by a parent, carer or teacher that gives clinicians a structured picture of how a child notices, responds to and connects with others. It assesses areas of social communication and interaction — social awareness, social thinking, social motivation and patterns of behaviour — across different lifespan forms. It is a screening and supporting tool, never a stand-alone diagnosis, and is interpreted by a qualified clinician alongside direct observation and other information.
A familiar questionnaire that turns a parent's or teacher's everyday observations into a structured picture of how a child relates to others.
In short
The Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2) is a widely used questionnaire that helps clinicians understand how a child notices, responds to and connects with other people in everyday life. Completed by a parent, carer or teacher, it gathers observations about social awareness, communication and behaviour — not as a stand-alone diagnosis, but as one helpful thread in a fuller developmental picture. It is a screening and supporting tool that a qualified clinician interprets alongside direct observation and other information.What the SRS-2 assesses
The SRS-2 asks a familiar adult to rate a child on a series of everyday statements — how the child reads social cues, joins in play, takes turns in conversation, makes eye contact, manages change, and responds to others' feelings. These responses are grouped into areas that together describe social communication and interaction, including social awareness, social thinking, social motivation, and patterns of behaviour or interests. There are different forms across the lifespan — for preschoolers, school-age children, and adults — and matching versions for parents, teachers and self-report where suitable.What makes it valuable is that it draws on real-life observation across different settings — home and school can tell different parts of the same story. It does not produce a label by itself; instead it gives a clinician a structured, comparable summary that can highlight where a child may benefit from a closer look and tailored support.
When it is used
A clinician may suggest the SRS-2 as part of a broader developmental assessment, often when questions arise about social communication. It is one piece of evidence — never used alone to decide anything. The strength of the social profile it produces lies in combining the SRS-2 with direct clinical observation, developmental history and other measures, so that the result reflects the whole child rather than a single questionnaire.The Pinnacle way
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care, never from a form or app alone. Where social communication is in focus, our team may draw on tools such as the SRS-2 alongside hands-on assessment, and shape an individualised plan that can include speech therapy and other supports.Trusted sources
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidance on social communication assessment; the American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren on developmental screening; WHO information on autism and social communication.Next step — If you have questions about your child's social communication, book a developmental assessment so a clinician can choose the right tools and build a supportive plan.
What to watch
Whether your child reads social cues, joins in play, takes turns in conversation, makes eye contact, copes with change and responds to others' feelings — across both home and school settings.
Try this at home
Notice your child's social moments during play — do they look to share a discovery, take turns, or respond when a friend is upset? Jotting down small everyday examples helps a clinician see the fuller picture.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-10 · reviewed every 365 days
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
Is the SRS-2 a diagnosis of autism?
No. The SRS-2 is a questionnaire that describes social communication patterns and supports assessment. It never produces a diagnosis on its own — a qualified clinician interprets it alongside direct observation, developmental history and other measures.
Who completes the SRS-2?
A familiar adult such as a parent, carer or teacher rates the child on everyday statements about social behaviour. There are matching forms across the lifespan and self-report versions where suitable, so observations from different settings can be compared.
Why use both home and school reports?
Children may relate differently across settings, so home and school observations can tell different parts of the same story. Combining them gives a clinician a richer, more balanced picture of a child's social communication.