If you are diagnosed with ASD, what was your AQ50 score?

[lovelycosyslippers]

Mine is between 26 and 29 (I've taken it a few times). I'm trying to work out the significance of that. The cut-off seems to be given as 26 in some places and 32 in others. Similarly I've seen the population average given as 16 in some places and 22 in others.

I did post this in the ND Mumsnetter section but am also posting here for traffic.

I scored 23 and I’m diagnosed with autism. But the AQ50 is known to be imprecise and needs rephrasing.

For example, the AQ50 asks if you like dates and phone numbers, and I don’t. If it had instead asked are you obsessed with words, etymology of words, spelling of words, shapes of letters - then I’d say yes. But the AQ50 is focused on autistic people being obsessed with numbers, not words.

Also the AQ50 assumes autistic people are observant and equates that with being detail oriented. But I’m not observant in the slightest, I completely ignore visual detail. But I am obsessive about textual detail and I produce impossibly detailed spreadsheets and written work.

So basically the AQ50 is a really outdated view of autism. It harks back to the old stereotype of autistic people being obsessed with numbers and visual detail, which isn’t correct for everyone. If you could hear my voice or see me sitting here rocking, you’d immediately say I’m autistic. But the AQ50 says I’m not.

That's really interesting. My scores would be much higher if the questions were about language and words. Or old maps. Or any kind of map. (But old ones are the best.)

I've not got a diagnosis. Have two dc with asd and am awaiting assessment. I got 47.

This is very insightful. I think it's quite common to not even notice the details and not be at all bothered about having to give a non nuanced answer if NT.

Assessor: "Try not to spend too long on it, just answer whichever's closest "

Assessee: <brain screaming "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU HOW IN JESUS EVERLOVING FUCKSTICK ARE YOU EVER GOING TO REACH AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS THAT I CAN TRUST IF YOU OUTRIGHT INSTRUCT ME TO GIVE FALSE RESPONSES LIKE CLAIMING THAT ONE AND ONLY ONE OF THESE ANSWERS FITS ME AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHH"> "Your entire premise is faulty and flawed and this jeopardises the integrity of this assessment, the diagnostic process, and psychiatry in general Er… B?"

I raised this. I think that's part of it. Lol

I’m convinced the actual test is whether or not you complain about the accuracy of the AQ50!

Makes you wonder lol. I said well it depends, where is it, have I been before, am I interested in that particular show/museum, who am I going with etc etc.

Not diagnosed but really suspect I am! Plus my children are diagnosed with asd. I Scored 35.

I have not done the AQ in a medical setting but I have done various anxiety and depression questionnaires.

For reasons I am not totally sure of my neurologist gets me to do them every time I go.

I find many of the statements so fucking ambiguous that the first time I did raise it with him, I said well what do you mean by this?

He just said answer the best fit.

So they get fairly random answers.

Eg I don't like interacting with people

Well it depends which people and what first if interactions fgs.

Me again, OP.
If generalised anxiety then perhaps a GP appointment and meds might act as a control for you, bearing in mind that meds take a while to kick in/have side effects in some. These are the main three prescribed.
Escitalopram, paroxetine, and sertraline | Prescribing information | Generalized anxiety disorder | CKS | NICE
Then there's self-care: routine, diet, nutrition, time for you/interest.
Finally, there's avoiding any known triggers - busy shopping centres, noisy cinemas, being hangry, traffic, crowds, short deadlines etc
Only you can answer which of the above affect your mood on a bad day.

In either case, a GP consult might give you peace of mind. Either applying for diagnostic pathway so that reasonable adjustments at work can be made or trying meds to see if you meltdown less.
If sensory overloaded, there are avoidance strategies you can put in place and whether you are diagnosed or not, certain provisions made for others (e.g. supermarket dim lit sessions) I'd take advantage of too. Nobody is gatekeeping in that sense. Hope none of that is teaching you how to suck eggs. I know from my kids how exhausting a condition it can be. Handhold xx

45

I have this with almost any questionnaire I've ever been asked to fill in. They give me the rage!! But as you say most people seem weirdly ok with it. I think, if it's not precise, what's the point. Your results will be meaningless with everyone filling it in using their own interpretation.

As you have intimated, perhaps that's part of he test!!!

7?? My completely NT as they come sibling got 13!

I got 39 but agree with other posters that much of it is so imprecise!

In general I prefer a theatre to a museum - because I live in a big city and museums tend to be crowded and noisy and I find it hard to concentrate on the things I want to look at. In a theatre I have an assigned seat, which I've chosen after looking at seat views online, and people are usually quiet during the performance.

If it's scored by 'plays are about people, museum exhibits are about things' all the nuance is lost.

I have an informal diagnosis. I showed up for my interview with printouts of scores for several autism questionnaires, annotated with notes about the ambiguity of some questions and extra detail explaining some of my answers. Apparently that in itself was an indicator!

Has anyone tried this one?
https://psytests.org/arc/rmeten.html

32 here. I think it is skewed towards classic male autism and assumes we have no empathy. People with autism often have challenges with empathy, but being too empathetic and not knowing how to disconnect can easily be the issue.

With special interests, men tend to collect information as mentioned in one of the questions. Women tend to get passionate about a topic but enjoy it in different ways, for instance creating art around that topic.

Those are just two examples that stood out for me.

@Kalevala "CurlewKate
What's the lowest number anyone has got? I just scored 7-which basically seems to indicate total pain in the neck!

7?? My completely NT as they come sibling got 13!"

I know- it gave me a bit of a shock!

I just tried it - got 10

WTAF is that?? They all look the same except a couple that looked worried. I couldn’t even interpret the results so no idea how I did 😂.

I found that quite uncomfortable. My score was exactly half way between ASD average and NT average.

I was basically guessing at most of them.

I think you get your score from the line at the top

43 (diagnosed Autistic with ADHD)

Oh and I got a 41.

i do like numbers, but not without purpose. That’s why I became a data scientist. ASD brain for the win.

Yes that hurt my brain 😂. Honestly, they all just looks like eyes to me except the older ones looked worried and some were looking to the side which I took to mean suspicious.