Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)

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The TAS‑20 is a widely used self-assessment designed to measure alexithymia—a trait involving difficulty in identifying, understanding, and expressing emotions. While not a diagnosis on its own, alexithymia is common among neurodivergent individuals and can influence mental health, emotional regulation, and relationships.
 

20 Questions
 

Who It’s For:

Adults (18+) who want to explore their ability to recognize and communicate emotions—especially those who may struggle with emotional awareness or suspect they experience alexithymia.
 

Duration:

Approximately 5–7 minutes
 

What It Measures:

The TAS‑20 evaluates three main components of alexithymia:
 

• Difficulty identifying feelings

• Difficulty describing feelings

• Externally-oriented thinking (a focus on facts over feelings)
   

These traits can shape how you relate to your own emotions and how you connect with others emotionally.
 

Score Interpretation

Total Score Range: 0–100
 

• 0–51: No to Low Presence of Alexithymia Traits
  You likely have a strong ability to understand and express your emotions, as well as tune into the emotions of others.
   

• 52–60: Moderate Presence of Traits
  You may occasionally find it hard to recognize or describe your emotions, but these challenges likely don’t interfere significantly with your daily life or relationships.
   

• 61–100: High Presence of Traits
  Your responses suggest notable difficulty identifying, understanding, or expressing emotional states. These challenges may impact your ability to navigate relationships or manage emotional experiences.
   

Support for Emotional Awareness and Growth

If you scored high, you may often feel unsure of what you're feeling—or find it difficult to explain emotions to others. This doesn’t mean you don’t feel deeply; it means your brain may process emotional information differently.
 

With the right support, it’s possible to build emotional vocabulary, increase self-awareness, and feel more confident in both understanding yourself and connecting with others. A neurodiversity-affirming therapist can help you explore these areas in a nonjudgmental space.

👉 Ready to explore your emotional world with support? [Reach out through our contact form]—we’re here to help.