Aspie Quiz any Good?

[Eos of the Eons]

http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

My score:

Your Aspie score: 130 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 58 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie

I probably do act like someone with Aspergers in a room full of strangers. I feel quite differently when I'm with folks I know and like and can be myself around. ....Vocabularies may be extraordinarily rich and some children sound like "little professors." However, persons with AS can be extremely literal and have difficulty using language in a social context.

...There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood

http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aswhatisit.html

While I'm not into self diagnosing, that sounds a lot like me, and one of my brothers is much more severely matching the description (with a lower IQ around 80, though). I wouldn't doubt if I am somewhat "aspie".

Just wondering if the quiz is any good, and if self awareness is helpful?

[Professor Yaffle]

I don't know about that test in particular ( I scored as neurotypical), but here is a screening test devised by Simon Baron Cohen who is head of an autism research group in Cambridge. It's not suitable for diagnosing people, but indicates whether or not you might want to get it looked into.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html


In the initial trials of the test,[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_Spectrum_Quotient#cite_note-6) the average score in the control group was 16.4, with men scoring slightly higher than women (about 17 versus about 15). 80% of adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders scored 32 or more, compared with only 2% of the control group.
The authors cited a score of 32 or more as indicating "clinically significant levels of autistic traits". However, although the test is popularly used for self-diagnosis of Asperger syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome), the authors caution that it is not intended to be diagnostic, and advise that anyone who obtains a high score and is suffering some distress should seek professional medical advice before jumping to any conclusions.
A further research paper[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_Spectrum_Quotient#cite_note-smith-4) indicated that the questionnaire could be used for screening in clinical practice, with scores of 26 or lower indicating that a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome can effectively be ruled out.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_Spectrum_Quotient

[sophia8]

I've taken several of those "are you an aspie" quizzes, and that one is certainly the most comprehensive. Unlike the other quizzes, it was long enough to actually list quite a number of my own characteristics.
Aspies helped to compile it, which is another plus.

[Naughtyhippo]

Does anyone know much about the circular grid that's generated with your results?

ETA: I gots the 'neourotypical' result for the first one and scored 24/50 on Proffessor Yaffle's one. Middle of the road, nothing to see here!

[Ivor the Engineer]

I'm thinking of creating an "Am I Normal?" questionaire, to see if there is anyone left who doesn't think they have a pathology.

[Naughtyhippo]

I'm thinking of creating an "Am I Normal?" questionaire, to see if there is anyone left who doesn't think they have a pathology.

Dooooo iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit, doooooooooooooo iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!

The only pathology I have involves laziness. Would that be on your quiz?

[Professor Yaffle]

Pages related to the Baron Cohen one suggest that there is no point getting a diagnosis unless you are suffering distress related to thes characteristics.

[N.Texas]

Thought I'd try since my dad has aspergers.

Your Aspie score: 84 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 126 of 200
You are very likely neurotypical

http://www.rdos.net/eng/poly12b.php?p1=51&p2=64&p3=58&p4=56&p5=46&p6=50&p7=19&p8=29&p9=26&p10=20&p11=32&p12=10

[Eos of the Eons]

I keep scoring 32 or 33 on the kind Professor Yaffle posted. Yeah, it seems to interfere with jobs. I keep getting stuck at front desks at first, and then moved. I "look" like I'd be a good socializer-someone to shoot the small talk with visitors, then am found to NOT to be a good socializer (as I keep telling people when they first hire me-I interview well since I have some long answers memorized and a great handshake that I practised). I hate sales, and I hate talking to people I don't know. A front desk person needs to be more social and like strangers.

I prefer to be in a corner doing my own thing and not getting interrupted. I HATE interruptions. My boss gave me a job she hated - going over 5 pages of data (in 8 sized font) and making sure every document related to the data (hundreds) were in order. I did it in a couple of hours and she was totally surprised. I'm not a socializer, not a shmoozer, I don't like to talk. I just like to write. When I try to talk the words don't come out. It's like they stick in my brain or hit a road block when I try to open my mouth. I have to practise speaking anything that is more than a sentence long. I listen good. I get all the details. I don't look at people in the eye when I'm listening though, as that distracts me from what they are saying. I'd rather be taking notes.

I get told I make faces. I don't know that I'm doing that, and then I guess that distracts them when they are talking to me.

It's better when I know people and trust them, then I can relax more. I think my thing is more anxiety, but I don't know. I had to make myself learn social graces, since I got fired enough times for being "rude" when i was in my twenties. I try to look at people when they walk by me in the morning, and I make a great effort to say "good morning" even though I don't feel like it. People seem to think that is a big deal, but I don't get the big deal. To have to say good morning to everyone every morning? What if it ISN'T a "good" morning, what if it's a BAD morning? What is the big deal?

I'm not a friendly person, and I don't "get" how people just are. I kind of study friendly people, to learn how they do it. I've discovered that if I just ask other people questions about themselves, that they'll do most of the talking, then I just have to concentrate on trying to look at their eyes. :p I've gotten good at offering a sentence here and there, and then turning the subject back to about them somehow if they ask about me. So, people seem to find me less weird, and appreciate my attention to detail, and I don't just get fired for seemingly no reason as much anymore. If I feel strongly enough about something, then I can talk about it (my I talk to much with my hands and I guess I make faces). But who cares how the weather is this morning? If you're going to interrupt me, then at least let it be about something important. And if you're a stranger that smiles at me, then you're just WEIRD, as strangers aren't supposed to smile at other strangers, weirdo. And no, I'll never remember your name if I've only seen you once before. Anomia... look it up. I'll only remember your name if I get to know you, and if I figure I have to work with you and find you if I have a question about something.

yeah, I care about people. I just don't want to bother with people when I need to get something done. Talk to me at coffee time, then I'll actually remember your dog's name, Oh, you're cat's name then. But right now I have to figure out why this invoice isn't adding up... so go away. And yeah, I giggle nervously when you talk, but that's better than me trying to interrupt you mid-sentence. At least I've stopped trying to input data into the computer while you're talking to me. Now go away, I'm busy.

[Pragmatist]

Your Aspie score: 145 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 64 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie

On the other one I get 42

[Damien Evans]

99/200
104/200

NOT what my Aspergers diagnosis would suggest(that would be more like 150 and 60). Either the test is flawed or i got my answers wrong.

[Eos of the Eons]

Wouldn't mind at all if the fraccin test is wrong :D

Did you try the other one that Yaffle posted?

[casebro]

Interesting test.

I guess a more honest way to ask questions on all of these psyche tests would be "Do you perceive yourself to..."

Anyhow, I'm Aspie 101, typical 90. Good thing Schizophrenic isn't on that test. ;)

[Tiktaalik]

http://www.rdos.net/eng/poly12b.php?p1=55&p2=12&p3=52&p4=53&p5=11&p6=50&p7=23&p8=24&p9=16&p10=13&p11=49&p12=14

I would like an explanation of the graph...

[Dunstan]

Why take such a test? Is it just idle curiosity, like the various "personality tests" that are out there? Are people hoping to get "treatment" for Asperger's, if that's even possible? Will it make you happier or more at peace with yourself to learn that certain behavior is "caused" by your previously undiagnosed Aspergers?

It's not really this thread that's provoking my questions; for some time now, I've had the impression that Asperger's is the hip, trendy condition to diagnose in oneself or in others.

[CrikeyBobs]

Although I am very atypical in some ways socially, and have some aspie traits I certainly would not consider myself as having aspergers. The results of the test would seem to agree:
Your Aspie score: 57 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 148 of 200
You are very likely neurotypical

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/thum_6203490b9629c8e58.png (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=14201)

There's a PDF that can be downloaded, breaking down the questions into various groupings and assigning scores to them, but I simply cannot make head nor tail of how the scoring is done. Here is an example of the scoring in one section (cropped and altered to be small enough to upload):

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/thum_6203490b984614eff.png (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=14203)

I can understand the numbers assigned to my choices but what do the other columns mean? They seem to be related to the section scores, but exactly how I can't make out.

[slingblade]

Your Aspie score: 177 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 44 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie


http://www.rdos.net/eng/poly12b.php?p1=97&p2=97&p3=94&p4=61&p5=100&p6=82&p7=76&p8=75&p9=89&p10=61&p11=96&p12=58


Yeah, well, who knows what it means. Besides, even if it's so, it doesn't do me any good to know.

I did notice many of the questions asked the same thing, in slightly different ways.

[Professor Yaffle]

I did notice many of the questions asked the same thing, in slightly different ways.

Only the aspies notice that... ;)

[slingblade]

Why take such a test? Is it just idle curiosity, like the various "personality tests" that are out there? Are people hoping to get "treatment" for Asperger's, if that's even possible? Will it make you happier or more at peace with yourself to learn that certain behavior is "caused" by your previously undiagnosed Aspergers?

It's not really this thread that's provoking my questions; for some time now, I've had the impression that Asperger's is the hip, trendy condition to diagnose in oneself or in others.

Yeah, I feel the same way. I know I have a hard time with many aspects of life (whatever that means!), but I'm aware it's all an indecipherable mish-mash of genetics, defects, differences, learned behaviors, trauma, experience....

I know I've seen many professionals about it. They all have different ideas, different labels, different diagnoses. Sometimes they overlap, sometimes I'm given one label only, or sometimes multiple labels that differ from doctor to doctor. No one ever seems to know what's wrong, or knows just what to call it.

Curiosity is part of why I take little meaningless tests. But the larger part is because I have reasoned I can't be helped, or help myself, or "get better," until I know what's wrong. I mean, in the little house that is me, is the problem in my wiring, my plumbing, my foundation, my roof? Each takes a different solution, doesn't it? You don't use a pipe wrench to fix a short or mend a hole in the roof...

Then again, I'm growing more and more convinced that once the human mind "breaks," there is no fixing it. So, what does it really matter, anyway?

[casebro]

Gee, until CrikeyBobs posted his chart, I didn't know that 'zero' was a choice. I figured that the question mark in that box was just to keep track of which ones you have answered.

[CrikeyBobs]

Gee, until CrikeyBobs posted his chart, I didn't know that 'zero' was a choice. I figured that the question mark in that box was just to keep track of which ones you have answered.

I answered nearly all the questions. There were only a couple I didn't answer and they didn't have a score allocated. 0,1,2 seem to correspond to 'no', 'little', 'yes'.

[Eos of the Eons]

Okay, some background, considering the last few more snarky posts *sticks out tongue*

My brother is an aspie, but has a lower IQ. So, I incorrectly ASSUMED that ALL aspies had lower IQs. I just found out a few weeks ago that I was wrong about that.

Then consider that my son has Tourette Syndrome, and other things that run in my family. I got to wondering. I also have had a ton of therapy for depression because of other things related to this kind of thing (group therapy is where I got the most feedback on how "rude" I was in that I never greeted anyone and had a total lack of "normal" social skills that I've now worked on getting).

So considering all THAT, it's not a hip or trendy thing in my family, it just is. Then I took that darn quiz and kind of thought "huh". I'm just like my dad, so maybe it runs on his side more. My brother got it from somewhere, right?

So, in the OP I asked what others think of the quiz. That is because it is just an online thing, and probably not very accurate. I can see in this thread that I'm thinking my thinking was right. However, in case I land in therapy again, I might just bring it up anyways.

[TheDaver]

Yaffles test seems to be broken at the moment. When I hit the button at the end, it reveals the CGI code rather than giving me my results.

[Professor Yaffle]

Yaffles test seems to be broken at the moment. When I hit the button at the end, it reveals the CGI code rather than giving me my results.

I'll see if I can find another source.

[slingblade]

I found the same questions as in Yaffle's link, here:

http://www.glennrowe.net/BaronCohen/AutismSpectrumQuotient/AutismSpectrumQuotient.aspx


I took the "quiz."

Your score: 34
0 - 10 = low
11 - 22 = average (most women score about 15 and most men score about 17)
23 - 31 = above average
32 - 50 is very high (most people with Asperger Syndrome or high-functioning autism score about 35) 50 is maximum

so....now what? Can I use this info in a way that will benefit me? In what way would that be? Or do I just ignore it and accept I'm broken, and try to get on with life, if possible?

Perhaps I should add that, since earliest childhood, I have never felt as if I fit in with others, that I don't really think I'm "people," like others think they are "people." I don't know what I am, but I am definitely not "one of you."

It's always made me very sad.

[Ivor the Engineer]

Damn! I always thought I was normal until I took this test.

Is there any doctors or pharmaceutical companies that can provide me with therapy?

[JihadJane]

so....now what? Can I use this info in a way that will benefit me? In what way would that be? Or do I just ignore it and accept I'm broken, and try to get on with life, if possible?

Perhaps I should add that, since earliest childhood, I have never felt as if I fit in with others, that I don't really think I'm "people," like others think they are "people." I don't know what I am, but I am definitely not "one of you."

It's always made me very sad.

:(

Do you think being Asperger's is being "broken"?




Is there any doctors or pharmaceutical companies that can provide me with therapy?

No. Unlikely in Britishland if you're an adult with Asperger's. Bad luck!

[slingblade]

:(

Do you think being Asperger's is being "broken"?

I think I'm broken. I think I'll stay that way, too. Doesn't really matter what it's called, does it?

[CrikeyBobs]

I think I'm broken. I think I'll stay that way, too. Doesn't really matter what it's called, does it?

That's interesting. I (like to) think that bits of my brain are broken. Or maybe it's just an excuse to avoid doing the things that scare me.

[slingblade]

An excuse.

Yes, of course. I'm just seeking excuses. Because it isn't at all hard to function when pretty much everything scares you, and your brain screams at you, non-stop, to protect yourself, get away, do something to be safe. Except, everywhere you go, there's no safety, just more things that scare you.


Yes, that's a viable and healthy way to live. Everything else is just excuses.

[CrikeyBobs]

An excuse.

Yes, of course. I'm just seeking excuses. Because it isn't at all hard to function when pretty much everything scares you, and your brain screams at you, non-stop, to protect yourself, get away, do something to be safe. Except, everywhere you go, there's no safety, just more things that scare you.


Yes, that's a viable and healthy way to live. Everything else is just excuses.

slingblade, I'm sorry. The excuse comment was about me, not at all about you. I was examining my own motives and behaviours. I wouldn't presume to know how you feel. I'm sorry my post wasn't more clear.

[portlandatheist]

These are my results:
Your Aspie score: 63 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 138 of 200
You are very likely neurotypical

What I don't like about these quizzes is that I could take the same quiz tomorrow and depending on my mood or what is going on in my life, may answer the same questions differently and get a very different score. Some of the questions were bizarre:
Do you look more at legs or shoulders than hands in a potential partner?
I don't get it. And another:
Have you been fascinated about making traps?
Um...no. Here's another great question:
Do you enjoy walking on your toes?

[Professor Yaffle]

Nothing remotely like those three questions is in the other screening questionnaire (Baron Cohen) which I am sure has a lot more work done on the validity. Unfortunately it doesn't give you a pretty coloured chart....

[Salerio]

I can't post the link to the pretty graph - yet

Your Aspie score: 182 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 15 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie

[Eos of the Eons]

Damn! I always thought I was normal until I took this test.

Is there any doctors or pharmaceutical companies that can provide me with therapy?


You thought you were normal? Ohhhh boy....



:p



Oh, and you're beyond help. For sure. Better to just accept that and just go on as you were. Ignorance is bliss, and ignorant bliss is as good as it can get for ya buddy.

[JihadJane]

I think I'm broken. I think I'll stay that way, too. Doesn't really matter what it's called, does it?

My question was about Asperger's Syndrome rather than your whole experience of yourself. There's nothing wrong with you thinking you're broken, or thinking that your mind is broken.

I'd call AS a difference rather than a defect. With informed understanding and support, life could be made a lot easier for people with Asperger's - it probably will be for children being diagnosed with it now, hopefully!


Some of the questions were bizarre:

I don't get it. And another:

Um...no. Here's another great question:

Perhaps that's because people with Aspergers really do see things differently.

Some severely autistic children always walk on their toes because that's how they like it!

[Beanbag]

Well, that was interesting.

Your Aspie score: 113 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 93 of 200
You seem to have both Aspie and neurotypical traits

The circular chart resembled one of those spider-on-LSD experiments, forming a narrow loop between Talent/Compulsion and Physical.

Feh. I've always thought differently than most people. I get along better with the people on this forum than IRL. I have the perfect job: I fix broken things of great intrinsic value upon which not a few lives depend on them functioning correctly. Nobody bothers me. Of course, I work with similar "oddballs" such as myself. In a way it's amusing to watch the interactions between us. It's like watching a group of interacting cogs and gears.

Beanbag

[Eos of the Eons]

I think I'm broken. I think I'll stay that way, too. Doesn't really matter what it's called, does it?

You're not broken. What is normal for you is fine. After I stopped putting pressure on myself to be more "outgoing" and "normal", I focussed on my strengths instead. Just doing that helped me to stop being so anxious and worried too, but it took a long time to stop being so hard on myself. I'm social enough now, I do things right enough now, and if someone can't accept that I'm not a chatty cathy and miss popularity, then frac them. I need down time, I need quiet time, and I can't stand busy noisy places comfortably for more than an hour. So what? I have to take deep belly breaths to relax in public when I start feeling that anxiety creeping up, and I have learned to do some funny things to calm myself down that people don't notice. Until people live with anxiety or Asperger's or whatever, they can' know what it is like. Frac em if they can't accept differences. Not everyone is average or "normal", I think more people are different than we realize. I just wish I'd realized that earlier in my life, but ah well.

[Miss_Kitt]

Hi, folks.

Especially to Eon and Slingblade, thanks for being open with your world, with where your heads are at.

I know folks with Asperger's--actual, tested by neurologist -type Asperger's, and diagnosed before it became trendy. And it sounds like Eon would definitely benefit from working some with a specialist, though she has also done some wonderful work herself.

Asperger's is primarily a failure of the integrative and distraction-suppressing functions of the central nervous system. (That is, some of it happens long before voluntary thought enters the picture.) One of the distinguishing characteristics of Asperger's people is that they "don't get" body language and facial expressions. The learning function that most of us use in early childhood to pick up the 'rules of the road' for interpersonal non-verbal communication doesn't work. So they are always on the outside, looking in; the running analysis of other people that our behavior processing does for us, doesn't happen for them. In the movie of life, they don't get the soundtrack, only subtitles.

It makes their life harder, for sure. It makes them unknowingly break the unwritten rules of interaction, and then they don't see the warning signals that they've erred, and things get worse. I really felt for Eons talking about 'getting fired for no reason' until she learned to fake small-talk. At the risk of sounding trite, You're not broken, you're just different. You can resist high-pressure sales tactics and remember what a politician or a lawyer actually SAID much better than the rest of us. You have (in all likelihood) a much better ability to deal with detailed tasks, and will get more satisfaction out of it, then most people. Asperger's is usually (not always, but usually) linked to higher than average intelligence.

One training tool my friend uses is to watch a scene from a movie with the sound turned off, and try to guess what the people are feeling. She then watches again with the sound on, and works on deciphering that non-verbal language. She has learned a lot in the 3 years since her diagnosis.

Another common Asperger's trait is described as, "Can't see the forest for the trees." Ask my friend about a book she has read, and she will give you lots of interesting data; she can quote sentences and sometimes even give you page numbers. But ask her, "What was the author's main point?" and she flounders. Synthesizing the discrete facts into a thesis is just not easy for her. It's not what she reads for; it's not how she organizes her own thoughts.

The Internet has been a huge boon for Asperger's folks, because they are often more at home with written than spoken communication, and much more at home with not having to decipher or send out non-verbal signals. Unsurprisingly, they often excel at communicating in these conditions.

If you feel at a loss to deal with people, seeing a therapist may help you learn some techniques to make that necessary part of life easier. It will probably never be comfortable except with a very few people that you have gotten to know so well--and who have learned to format their conversations in a way that is clear to you--that you are able to really have open exchanges.

I believe that "Aspie's" is over-diagnosed today for the same reason that Adult Attention-Deficit Disorder used to be: It's where the interest and the funding is. For some people, it is an excuse to behave poorly, to be selfish or rude, to put themselves in center focus and expect the world to adapt to them. However, those folks don't generally work with a neurologist, they take some magazine or self-help book test and self-diagnose. (I'd like to see the statistical spread on whether looking at hands versus legs on a potential partner is an Asperger's trait, oy!) And there are some doctors out there, especially in med-happy America, who will be happy to write you some drugs for it. But that's not a medically valid or useful assessment.

If you genuinely believe you have Asperger's and it is impacting your life negatively, I recommend seeing a neurologist for a diagnosis and a psychologist who has been working with this condition for more than 5 years for some assistance developing.

It's not a life-limiting condition, but it does need to be worked with -- much like being colorblind or having to wear glasses.

Best wishes, MK



I have not tried either of the tests linked above, because my distrust for Things on the Internet is fairly high. Also, I question whether privacy issues are properly dealt with unless liability is involved--that's what keeps medical records mostly secure.

[Miss_Kitt]

Eos, you seem like a really keen person. Glad to have met you online!

[DanishDynamite]

http://www.rdos.net/eng/poly12b.php?p1=36&p2=24&p3=36&p4=72&p5=30&p6=31&p7=19&p8=33&p9=16&p10=11&p11=19&p12=22

My Aspie score was 50 of 200.

I don't know if this is a good test or not, but I will make one comment: I supect it would be easy for an intelligent Aspie (is there any other kind?) to see how a given question should be answered in order not to appear as an Aspie. I know it was easy for me.

[Eos of the Eons]

Thank you Miss Kitt. I nodded so much while reading your post. One thing I do at home that drives everyone else crazy...I turn on the captioning on the TV so I can read the words rather than try to focus on what the people are saying and deal with all the noise and whatever else. I miss half of what is being said if I don't have the words turned on, and miss half the plot. Nobody else gets this. Drives everyone in the family crazy :D

This is not something I "suddenly" had to deal with. I've dealt with it all my life. I had NO friends in school. I was picked on and beat up every day. I never got why. I knew my brother was even more weird than I was, but he was slow too, so the teachers tried to help him in spite of my mom's refusals that anything was "wrong" with him, and she blamed "game playing" on why I was so picked on too. Yeah, she had issues that I've explained before. Between my brother and my mom, I figured I was getting beat up because of them. When I left school and home though, things didn't change. Something was also different about me. I was clueless, and people hated me, and I tried hard to be good at things-like my wardrobe and appearance and be perfect at whatever job I had. I kept trying to be the perfect person, but nothing worked. I had an ugly car and was dirt poor, and was a welfare bum as a kid... so maybe people could tell I was "white trash"? Did I talk funny? Did I look funny? The depression made me even less agreeable to dealing with people. I could go on and on, but its a sad sad depressing story.

So, whether it's me, the lack of socialization I had as kid, my anxiety, whatever, I've dealt with most of it. I didn't realize Apergers was some "trendy" thing now. I thought it was still relatively unheard of. Silly me once again, being so naive as usual. Gah. Anyways. I was curious. Everything Miss Kitt wrote about is also classic me. So, I will pursue if it is beneficial in the future. For now though, I'm fine and have come a damn long way. I'm actually LIKING life now, which is huge for me. Took me 30 years, therapy, and treatment of my depression to like being alive, but it's been 6 years of accepting and liking myself, and it's been so wonderful.

[Professor Yaffle]

http://www.rdos.net/eng/poly12b.php?p1=36&p2=24&p3=36&p4=72&p5=30&p6=31&p7=19&p8=33&p9=16&p10=11&p11=19&p12=22

My Aspie score was 50 of 200.

I don't know if this is a good test or not, but I will make one comment: I supect it would be easy for an intelligent Aspie (is there any other kind?) to see how a given question should be answered in order not to appear as an Aspie. I know it was easy for me.

Why would they want to do that on a self screening test?

[Eos of the Eons]

Eos, you seem like a really keen person. Glad to have met you online!

*blushes* Thank you, sometimes a kindness like yours above still tears me up. I hate to say it, but I was so used to people being "mean" to me because of whatever reason as a kid or vibe I gave them as an adult, that I'm not that used to people being directly kind. I can't explain, but that means a lot to me. Thank you. I'm so grateful for online communities that have folks like you. I've met my best friends this way. I couldn't live without them.

And yeah, sales people still HATE hate me. But I enjoy driving them crazy now. I'll take something they said (that I guess others don't usually notice) and turn it back on them. They contradict themselves a lot if they are really full of themselves. They usually end up leaving me in a huff if they are real bull**tters and not at all sincere. I'm immune to all their smiles, high energy pitch, and fake niceties/compliments that others seem to eat up. Maybe that is why I'm such a good skeptic :p

[slingblade]

I apologize. I've been out of line. If it helps any, that was me under really tight control. I actually wanted to scream, to hurt you, to...distance you.

As I said, I yearn to know what this is, so maybe it can be fixed. And yet, contrarily, I have no hope it can be fixed for me, because I lack the special ingredient. I've no money. No insurance. No job. But my husband works, and he makes enough that we can pay rent, lights, and TV/cable, buy food and gas for the truck. This is enough, just barely enough, that we don't qualify for most social programs that could help us.

We are in the crack. Not so much income that we can help ourselves, but too much income, so that others will not help us. I'm pretty much stuck. It hurts.




I recognized a lot of my lifelong self in those Asperger's questions.

Then again, I recognize a lot of my lifelong self in ADD, OCD, PTSD, Social Disorder, emotional trauma, emotional immaturity. So, I don't know what's wrong, and probably never will know.

Eos said: "You're not broken. What is normal for you is fine."

But it isn't fine. It's anything but fine. My dream of being a teacher was shattered because of my inability to function in any situation that doesn't have steps for me to follow. I don't do "thinking outside the box" very well. For me, the box is all there is. I can't multi-task without becoming confused and over-stressed. I got way overstressed, got way confused, trying to learn to teach. But all this was helped along by people who didn't care about why I couldn't do it their way. They saw my inability as obstinance, refusal, mutiny, immaturity, excuses. And they punished me. After a lifetime of similar punishments, this last was the one that did it for good and all. I'm 50. I can't take anymore. I've taken all I can. I live in total despair.

I never want to leave this house again. I never want to see people again, never want to have face-to-face interaction with people again. I am deliberately not getting involved in my granddaughter's life, because one or both of us is going to end up disappointed and emotionally hurt. I can't stand the thought of hurting her feelings, and I know I can't take anymore heartbreak. The pain of never knowing her is minor to the pain of being eventually rejected by her.

But I come here to talk, because I can run away from all of you if it gets to be too much. I can turn you off. I can make myself safe from whatever it is that threatens. I want contact with people, want to talk and share ideas and learn things. If I screw it up here, I can leave for a while and come back when I'm better.

So. I'm sorry. I had hoped not to offend or insult. If I have, I'm sorry for it.

[DanishDynamite]

I keep scoring 32 or 33 on the kind Professor Yaffle posted. Yeah, it seems to interfere with jobs. I keep getting stuck at front desks at first, and then moved. I "look" like I'd be a good socializer-someone to shoot the small talk with visitors, then am found to NOT to be a good socializer (as I keep telling people when they first hire me-I interview well since I have some long answers memorized and a great handshake that I practised). I hate sales, and I hate talking to people I don't know. A front desk person needs to be more social and like strangers.
I hate small talk but know that it is important and have practised doing it for so many years now that I only get a little stressed doing it.
It's better when I know people and trust them, then I can relax more. I think my thing is more anxiety, but I don't know. I had to make myself learn social graces, since I got fired enough times for being "rude" when i was in my twenties. I try to look at people when they walk by me in the morning, and I make a great effort to say "good morning" even though I don't feel like it. People seem to think that is a big deal, but I don't get the big deal. To have to say good morning to everyone every morning? What if it ISN'T a "good" morning, what if it's a BAD morning? What is the big deal?
I understand what you are saying. It is small-talk. But small-talk is the oil that keep the social machinery humming, keeps agression down.
I'm not a friendly person, and I don't "get" how people just are. I kind of study friendly people, to learn how they do it. I've discovered that if I just ask other people questions about themselves, that they'll do most of the talking, then I just have to concentrate on trying to look at their eyes. :p I've gotten good at offering a sentence here and there, and then turning the subject back to about them somehow if they ask about me. So, people seem to find me less weird, and appreciate my attention to detail, and I don't just get fired for seemingly no reason as much anymore. If I feel strongly enough about something, then I can talk about it (my I talk to much with my hands and I guess I make faces). But who cares how the weather is this morning? If you're going to interrupt me, then at least let it be about something important. And if you're a stranger that smiles at me, then you're just WEIRD, as strangers aren't supposed to smile at other strangers, weirdo. And no, I'll never remember your name if I've only seen you once before. Anomia... look it up. I'll only remember your name if I get to know you, and if I figure I have to work with you and find you if I have a question about something.
Males will smile at you becuase you are gorgeous. :)
yeah, I care about people. I just don't want to bother with people when I need to get something done. Talk to me at coffee time, then I'll actually remember your dog's name, Oh, you're cat's name then. But right now I have to figure out why this invoice isn't adding up... so go away. And yeah, I giggle nervously when you talk, but that's better than me trying to interrupt you mid-sentence. At least I've stopped trying to input data into the computer while you're talking to me. Now go away, I'm busy.
From your account of your inner thoughts, I supect you are somewhat aspers. I say this with the greatest respect and without the credentials to make such a declaration. But I also say it with the reserved comment of: so what?

[DanishDynamite]

Why would they want to do that on a self screening test?
I don't know if they would. It was just a thought that occured to me while taking the test.

[Professor Yaffle]

Most self testing quizzes are a bit like that. I know exactly the answers to give that would show I wasn't depressed when I really was.

[DanishDynamite]

So, whether it's me, the lack of socialization I had as kid, my anxiety, whatever, I've dealt with most of it. I didn't realize Apergers was some "trendy" thing now. I thought it was still relatively unheard of. Silly me once again, being so naive as usual. Gah. Anyways. I was curious. Everything Miss Kitt wrote about is also classic me. So, I will pursue if it is beneficial in the future. For now though, I'm fine and have come a damn long way. I'm actually LIKING life now, which is huge for me. Took me 30 years, therapy, and treatment of my depression to like being alive, but it's been 6 years of accepting and liking myself, and it's been so wonderful.
I never would have suspected this. Anyway, good for you, Eos! And I just want to let you know that you have always been one of my favorite posters on this forum. :)

[Eos of the Eons]

:( I hurt for you slingblade. It isn't fine, I'm sorry. It is fine for me now since I was able to get help. I couldn't have done it on my own. I certainly don't expect that you could. I'm lucky to live in a place where we pay monthly health insurance and have universal healthcare for some things. I didn't have to pay for any of the therapy I got. I had given up at one point too, but luckily managed got help that was actually available.

They saw my inability as obstinance, refusal, mutiny, immaturity, excuses. And they punished me. After a lifetime of similar punishments, this last was the one that did it for good and all. I'm 50. I can't take anymore. I've taken all I can. I live in total despair.

Why do people have to heap punishment on top of it? That is the most unfair thing of all, to heap that, and their frustration with you, on top of everything else. Being mean doesn't help anyone. It is the lack of understanding that makes them do it though.

At the school where I work, I've recognized when a student needs a certain kind of help that others don't need. Just being kind can calm a person down, and then showing them the steps from the beginning can go a long way. Then everyone is happy. I know others that work there and just say to these students "I don't know why you aren't getting it". It's because the other staff member isn't being nice and is not showing them another way to do it. Getting frustrated with a student who learns differenly only compounds the problem. I've been told I'm the only reason some students got through their programs. But, the other staff say I "baby" some students too much, like the students deserve to fail without help and deserve the disdain they get from people who don't understand. I haven't been fired though, since getting students graduated is the name of the game in the long run.

But I come here to talk, because I can run away from all of you if it gets to be too much.

I had to force myself to stop running away too, but sometimes I still have to. I wish I could pluck you up and help you, like I can with some of the students. It's frustrating knowing you are stuck, and I want to go pound some idiot on the head that could get you some free services. My husband was also part of my saving grace. I'd be so much a mess still if I didn't have his support while I dealt with everything 10 years ago. He almost left me over it, but has stayed to enjoy the good times.

I'm sorry I have no real help to offer. I don't know what is in your area, as most areas are severely lacking in services. Sometimes services are short term, and get cut as soon as some politician doesn't get why it has to take government funding to keep it going. Non profits can't hold the professionals that are needed since they are expensive. Some professionals are idiots too.

I'm kind of heartened to hear there is more awareness now, and hope the awareness spreads to help you somehow, some way. You've tried to follow your dreams. I admire that you've tried.

I live in total despair.
Can't get past that. Damn. Damn damn damn.

Is it okay to be home now and get some peace from the world. I know it would be nice to contribute to the household income and interact with your granddaughter. Baby steps? Once you feel you can try again. Just one thing, like trying with your granddaughter and not worrying about working? It sounds like you've been through enough, and need a break. I don't know. Just wishing it could be better all of a sudden, but I know it takes time and taking on one thing at a time. Damn. Wishing I could reach through the net and give ya a hug.

[Eos of the Eons]

I never would have suspected this. Anyway, good for you, Eos! And I just want to let you know that you have always been one of my favorite posters on this forum. :)

Okay. Didn't come here for attention. Not used to nice things directed at me.. stop it! :mad:

Just kidding. :boxedin:

Thank you. :o

[DanishDynamite]

Okay. Didn't come here for attention. Not used to nice things directed at me.. stop it! :mad:

Just kidding. :boxedin:

Thank you. :o
You're very welcome, Eos. :)

Your contributions to this forum and to the cuase it represents, are enormous.

Thank you.

[TheDaver]

26

Kind of a relief. I’ve been told before that I have some autistic-like traits. I guess either I’m not so bad, or with age I’ve mellowed a bit.

[slingblade]

:( I hurt for you slingblade. It isn't fine, I'm sorry. It is fine for me now since I was able to get help. I couldn't have done it on my own. I certainly don't expect that you could. I'm lucky to live in a place where we pay monthly health insurance and have universal healthcare for some things. I didn't have to pay for any of the therapy I got. I had given up at one point too, but luckily managed got help that was actually available.

I know, very much, you didn't mean anything hurtful by saying it's fine. I know you were just trying to validate me, who I am, how I am. I do know that, honest. I'm not upset with you for saying it, either. But it isn't a reflection of my reality right now, and I guess I needed you to know that.

I can remember commercials from my childhood that said "Just be yourself!" and thinking, so angrily, "But no one likes this person! I have to pretend to be someone else, I can't just let go and be me. I mess it all up when I do."


Why do people have to heap punishment on top of it? That is the most unfair thing of all, to heap that, and their frustration with you, on top of everything else. Being mean doesn't help anyone. It is the lack of understanding that makes them do it though.

I know. It really surprised me that none of the people I was trying to work with "got" me. I had a lot of education about all kinds of kids, learning types, personalities, disabilities, differences...it's as if none of them knew any of that, but I sure expected them to, since they just spent all that time teaching it to me!

At the school where I work, I've recognized when a student needs a certain kind of help that others don't need. Just being kind can calm a person down, and then showing them the steps from the beginning can go a long way. Then everyone is happy. I know others that work there and just say to these students "I don't know why you aren't getting it". It's because the other staff member isn't being nice and is not showing them another way to do it. Getting frustrated with a student who learns differenly only compounds the problem. I've been told I'm the only reason some students got through their programs. But, the other staff say I "baby" some students too much, like the students deserve to fail without help and deserve the disdain they get from people who don't understand. I haven't been fired though, since getting students graduated is the name of the game in the long run.

Those kids are certainly lucky to have you. :)


You've tried to follow your dreams. I admire that you've tried.

Thanks for that. :) I'm sad to say the experience taught me why we call them "dreams." They never come true. They're just fantasies. I know I won't have another, believe me. The world has done just fine without my help all these years, and they can just continue to get along. I no longer really care.


Is it okay to be home now and get some peace from the world. I know it would be nice to contribute to the household income and interact with your granddaughter. Baby steps? Once you feel you can try again. Just one thing, like trying with your granddaughter and not worrying about working? It sounds like you've been through enough, and need a break. I don't know. Just wishing it could be better all of a sudden, but I know it takes time and taking on one thing at a time. Damn. Wishing I could reach through the net and give ya a hug.

You have done, and thanks for that. :)

It is okay, for now. I'm lucky in my husband. He does get it, does understand. He watched me work my butt off for 5 years, only to get done in at the very end, and over nothing, really. The problems I had could have been solved fairly easily, had anyone known what to do, or cared enough to do it. I was just being taught the wrong way, and being held to blame for not being able to learn that way.

But my hubby really does get it, and told me only recently that he knew I needed a break, and that we neither of us know for how long. That if I could just continue to try to bring in whatever income I could manage with my jewelry making and crafts (I'm actually pretty good; that eye for detail helps me make some really artful things in many media), we'd get by until we could figure out some help for me. He even lets me play computer games, because he knows I benefit from the concentration they require. I have to think so hard about them, I can't think about all the stuff that torments me, too.

We're moving in with his son. Instead of my own home, I get a bedroom and the garage for personal space. He had to fight for the garage for me--he knows how much I need that space to myself. And he won, so at least I have that. But it means we can save a little money on expenses now. I can't get help with that money--we have to save it up, to get our own rental place again one day, if we ever can. But we can stop stressing out over $200/month light bills and can split the cable bill, pay the kids reduced rent, share the groceries. It's a breather for a while.

And hey, cyberhugs are almost as good as the real thing. They're certainly just as welcome. Thank you for talking to me. It helped a lot.

[Ivor the Engineer]

Eos and Slingblade,

If you are so far shifted from the mean of the bell-shaped curve, how come you both have husbands and children?

I sometimes wonder if tests like the ones linked to in this thread get some people to over-analyse their thoughts and feelings and drive them to live up (semi-consciously) to the result they got, particularly the negative interpretations of the result, since we all pay more attention to what we perceive as bad news.

[slingblade]

Eos and Slingblade,

If you are so far shifted from the mean of the bell-shaped curve, how come you both have husbands and children?

I sometimes wonder if tests like the ones linked to in this thread get some people to over-analyse their thoughts and feelings and drive them to live up (semi-consciously) to the result they got, particularly the negative interpretations of the result, since we all pay more attention to what we perceive as bad news.

I don't know how far I'm "shifted from the mean," or even in which direction. I don't know how you would judge it, knowing only what little of my life I've told here.

...and I just deleted a few paragraphs of personal info. It doesn't really matter, does it?

ETA: I had children because I had sex. That's pretty simple, isn't it? In fact, I've been having some form of sex since I was 8 years old. My first husband was sociopathic, and yes, he was diagnosed as such, early in my very abusive marriage. My second husband is a really nice guy, very socially isolated, makes no friends, underachieving, left school in 8th grade, and was abused as a child.

Neither man would sit anywhere near the top of the bell curve, as you put it.

Is there something somewhere that says I wouldn't have any relationships, or would it say that my relationships would tend to be dysfunctional? Hurry and let me know, because to fit your opinion, I need to get divorced right away. :p

[Professor Yaffle]

I don't know how far I'm "shifted from the mean," or even in which direction. I don't know how you would judge it, knowing only what little of my life I've told here.

...and I just deleted a few paragraphs of personal info. It doesn't really matter, does it?

Oh just ignore Ivor. He can't resist having a go at what he perceives as overmedicalisation/overdiagnosis.

[Eos of the Eons]

Not sure how far "shifted" I was to begin with. I started with no personal relationships as a kid, and no regular personal relationships until my mid twenties. Then I really got some help. Now, over ten years later, I feel I've shifted on the outside closer to "normal". I still feel like an alien, but I think I manage to blend in rather than stand out so much. I did get fired this January though, for no real reason that I can see, but it was before my probationary period was up, so I couldn't do anything about it. It was a really good job too, with a pension and everything. Now the jobs I have don't have all those perks, but I am working. Beggers can't be chooses.
Anyone can have kids. My oldest has understandbly been through a lot.

I don't perceive the results as bad news. Just as making a lot of sense. As I've said, I've worked through it already for the most part. My heart goes out to slingblade though. I feel I've had far more access to helps, and now am feeling so very grateful for that. I also have friends now, where I never did before.

My brother, who has a lower IQ and is actually diagnosed as Aspie also has a wife and kids. He didn't get married until he was 40 though. He's just like Forrest Gump. You can't help but love him. He's the nices guy on the planet. He's gullible but lovable. He'll do anything for his family and his wife. He's a great husband, so giving. His wife loves being the boss, but is also fair. They are quite the team. It's something to see. He grasps onto conspiracy theories though, and was refusing to file his taxes (http://media.www.kentnewsnet.com/media/storage/paper867/news/2007/12/06/Opinion/The-Federal.Income.Tax.Is.Unconstitutional.And.Illegal-3135231.shtml)(yeah, it's about US taxes, but my brother never seemed to get that) for a while, until his wife tore a strip off of him. He also bought a 911 truther tape and ate that one up. My other brother and I laughed at it, but that just made him mad at us. His wife didn't comment.

Aspies that I know who are diagnosed are sweet and lovable and selfless. True geeks, in most cases. I'm a proud geek. It's too bad that others intepret Aspies as not worth their time for just being "different" and not the popular kids. Of course they can get married and have kids (you can see in this thread that most have normal to above normal intelligence, just less social skills). The people they marry are worthy of their time and attention. Lack of social skills doesn't mean that Aspies are cold fish. Rather, they are loving and devoted.

It's just the difference between knowing that a topic that interests you is boring someone else, and not recognizing when someone is getting mad at you for not looking them in the eyes when they are talking to you. It's not knowing the social graces. It's not liking meaningless small talk. Aspies have feelings, they just might forget to say thank you when you hold the door for them. Feeling grateful and saying thank you are two different things. They might not stop working and make you feel like you are bothering them if you try to talk to them while they are busy.

Unless they are taught correct social cues, their peers and adults may ostracize them because they are perceived as rude or different.
http://php.louisville.edu/news/news.php?news=633

Have you seen Bones? Bones is clueless, but lovable if you can look past her bluntness, use of technical vocabulary, and not getting how to win over a jury when presenting evidence in a courtroom.

She was asked by a reporter in one episode how she finds time to write books with her demanding work schedule. She says "Well, first you do one, then you do the other". Like, duh. Uncomfortable silence follows. Classic. No cuteness, no kidding around, just a straight no-nonsense answer.

Not sure what your picture of an Aspie is Ivor, but I hope this helps.

[Eos of the Eons]

I don't know how far I'm "shifted from the mean," or even in which direction. I don't know how you would judge it, knowing only what little of my life I've told here.

...and I just deleted a few paragraphs of personal info. It doesn't really matter, does it?

ETA: I had children because I had sex. That's pretty simple, isn't it? In fact, My first husband was sociopathic, and yes, he was diagnosed as such, early in my very abusive marriage.



I finally learned to recognize signs of abusive guys after some really really bad experiences with them. I wrote a list of what to look for in contol freaks who get abusive once they figure they have you under their thumb. Jerks. They can recognize an easy target, I think they can smell an easy target a hundred miles away. I finally learned to stand up for myself and stopped letting guys pick me. I picked my guy. I picked a good one!

[JihadJane]

Not sure what your picture of an Aspie is Ivor, but I hope this helps.

This immediately gave me a picture of Ivor the Aspie. He was sweet too.

:)

Thanks for everyone's comments.

[Ivor the Engineer]

Slingblade,

From your brief description of some of your life events it's clear you've hand a rough deal which I'm sorry to hear about. However, I think this makes it even more important to not read into too much into these self-tests, which may lead you down an unproductive path. I hope you manage to find some proper help soon and begin to feel better.

Eos,

I've only watched the TV show Bones a couple of times and was unaware there was anything particularly strange about the lead female character. But then I work with other Engineers, Scientists and Computer Programmers.:D

Prof. Yaffle,

I've taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (again) while on a Management training course and come out with a preference of INTJ (again). It was interesting listening to the reaction of others in the room discussing the description of their type. People seem to have a desire to match themselves to their type, in a similar way to how victims of cold-readers make an effort to find meaning in the words and suggestions of the performer.

Some companies use a similar test and give their employees a colour symbol to wear or put on their office doors so others will know what "type" of person they are. What I don't like about MBTI and similar tests is how they pigeonhole people.

BTW, I managed to score about 100/200 for both Aspie and neurotypical.

[slingblade]

Ivor, honey, I do my best not to read much into them, and this is helped by having seen professionals in the past whose diagnoses--when they bothered to give me any--so widely varied. No one knows, including me. And in the long run, none of it matters anyway.

[Professor Yaffle]

Well the MTBI is a load of crock.... There are much better and more scientifically sound personality tests (eg the Big Five) which don't pigeonhole you, but describe you on a continuum of 5 different factors. And they don't tell you that if you score x you would be good at job y etc.

The AQ test (by Baron Cohen - one of the foremost researchers into autism) that I posted is a measure with a fair amount research done on it and decent discriminant validity. It doesn't claim to diagnose you it merely indicates whether a) you can rule out autism/asperger's, and b) whether you should seek professional advice IF you are suffering distress.

I retrospect I probably shouldn't have posted it as it is designed for clinical and research use and not as an online self test. But I just thought that given another test had been posted, one I knew to have some research in support of it was probably better than that one that I don't think has had much research into it and I don't even know how it was developed.

[JihadJane]

The AQ test (by Baron Cohen - one of the foremost researchers into autism) that I posted...

Was it a condensed version?

[Ivor the Engineer]

Well the MTBI is a load of crock....

<snip>

Yeah, I think I may have scuppered any chance of getting HiPot. next to my name after questioning the validity of the MBTI and other parts of the course.

Did you know the #7 failure in communication is "Believing there is only one reality"?

That was like a red rag to a bull.

:D

ETA: Bloody hell! I just took the "validated" test and got 38/50.

32 - 50 is very high (most people with Asperger Syndrome or high-functioning autism score about 35)

[69dodge]

http://php.louisville.edu/news/news.php?news=633

From the linked article: "The disorder affects approximately one in 166 children."

I bet that it originally said, "approximately six in 1000 children", and someone decided to 'simplify' it, not realizing that by doing so, they were changing the implied precision of the figure.

(Y'all may now proceed to speculate about what it means that I notice things like that. :p)