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Original poster

Just taken an Asperger's test

67 replies

Introvert · 08/12/2005 12:29

I'm a regular, but I've changed my name because I really don't know what I think at the moment or whether it's all bollocks. And I just need to get my head round this...

I don't know why, but a couple of things have made me think recently and I've been looking into a test for Aspergers. I found one here .

But when I took it I scored fairly high (33 out of 50) and it's freaked me out a bit. I've always just viewed myself as rather socially inept, an introvert, self-sufficient. Someone who's rather obsessed with routine and organisation. But a couple of (minor) things that have happened recently have suggested to me that I'm rather detached too ... oh, I can't explain it. Sorry.

What I don't know, is what do I do about it? Is it worth as an adult going for a diagnosis? Am I just being a hypochondriac? I'm fairly happy about my life (apart from giving myself high standards I never seem to reach, but that's by the by) - I don't know if I've just opened a can of worms or if this test is fairly discredited anyway as a form of diagnosis.

Hmm.

OP posts:
Original poster
Introvert · 08/12/2005 14:44

Thank you Will listen to that later.

I'm not sure I will follow it up for me, but it has got me thinking more about ds1. Just been reading the national autism society site about aspergers and we've realised that not only is ds1 upset about changes in routine, but:

  • until very recently, he's done next to no imaginative play. And recent imaginative play is almost more of a "copy" of how other children play rather than really him imagining storylines etc.
  • he's always been very sensitive to loud noise.
  • he used to obsessively line toys up (I know not a sign in itself, but with the rest it's making me think) and at the age of two had memorised names of dinosaurs and car manufacturers.
  • only really noticing now ds2 is here how amazing it is to see a baby & toddler making so much eye contact and being so socially aware so young. I'm wondering whether ds2 is so exceptional, or just that it's such a stark contrast to both me and ds1.

So, yeah... don't know what to do really. I don't think it's worth me getting diagnosis - I can't see what good it would do even if I was... I can certainly "fake" sociableness now if I need to Don't know whether it's worth pursuing for ds1 though, or whether his traits are normal anyway. Don't even know WHAT I would do if I wanted to pursue it.

Feeling really quite confused as you can tell!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Introvert · 08/12/2005 14:45

(ds1 is 4, btw)

OP posts:
Bozza · 08/12/2005 14:46

I got 11 and was surprised it was so low because I am not especially outgoing.

Original poster
Introvert · 08/12/2005 14:47

Oh, also ds1 is rule obsessed and doesn't understand teasing/is very sensitive to people laughing at him.

OP posts:
Witchycat · 08/12/2005 14:51

My ds is 4 too (just started Reception) and he does some things that have made me, not very seriously, consider Aspergers. E.g. he hates being in the limelight, having his photo taken, any kind of change, anything where he doesn't know what's going to happen next, making small talk - BUT, for one thing, he gets it from his Dad and I'm certain his Dad is not autistic, just very clear about who he wants to bother with and who he doesn't and what he wants to do and what he doesn't and also ds can be very empathetic and wants to be with other children (certain friends - not all kids).

I don't know. The whole thing is a mine field.

Has your ds started school? ANy observations from school or nursery about how he is compared to others?

Original poster
Introvert · 08/12/2005 14:54

Yes, he started school this September.

They were very concerned how badly he reacted to the change in routine (around about Diwali they started visiting other classrooms). He would just sob and sob. They had a word with me about it, and went to a lot of effort to make sure he knew exactly what was going to happen each day and the following day and which teacher he would be with. I was really impressed with them actually.

OP posts:
Enideepmidwinter · 08/12/2005 14:55

'E.g. he hates being in the limelight, having his photo taken, any kind of change, anything where he doesn't know what's going to happen next, making small talk '

dd1 hates all of these too

don't think she has Aspergers though.

laughinglil · 08/12/2005 15:07

i got 14

ParrupupumScum · 08/12/2005 15:11

Are ds1 and ds2 both the same gender? Just wondering if you'd disguised them to retain anonymity. Only asking becuase ime, communication, and especially eye contact, tends to be staggeringly better in baby/toddler girls than baby/toddler boys. I also think it's v important to remember that the spectrum of normal is very wide and it's very easy to worry when your children are quite different from each other.

I think some questions to ask for both you and ds1 are:
1)is this a problem? (eg are you and ds1 happy, healthy and functioning in all essential areas? In all desirable areas? How important are the desirable areas?)

2)If the answers to 1 have you worried, what would help? (e.g. increasing confidence, learning extra social skills, learning to relax, letting people know the possible source of the problem etc)

3)Is a diagnosis necesary to access what would help? (e.g. Does ds1 need to attend a social skills group with similar children, does he need extra help at school, do you need family to know you why you may behave in certain difficult to understand ways?)

HTH.

ImdreadinganAUTIExmas · 08/12/2005 15:15

Having AS is about having problems. Yes some people are "geeky" (and would probably score quite highly on the social side of that test (don't like small talk, etc). However being shy etc does not mean you have to struggle through life, and does not mean that you have a disability. Everyone I know with a dx has real major problems outside of their learning ability. So for example one very academically able young adult with AS I know doesn't realise that people who haven't met his brothers don;t know what they look like (ie lacks theory of mind- imagine appearing "normal" but actually not understanding that at all), and he is very able. Another has problems understanding lots of common phrases (taking them literally), to the point where his misunderstandings of others makes life very very difficult.

Ds2 is a bit obsessive about trains etc and we quite often laugh and mutter "asperegers" under our breaths to each other (this is me and dh) when he does something a bit aspie. He's also hypersensitive to sand and wind. I suspect he;s going to be a bit swotty and a bit shy, but he;s never had any trouble with instructions or group work at nursery from the day he got there. He's not remotely aspie. He understands what is expected of him.

Queenmab · 08/12/2005 15:24

Introvert - you say in your initial post that you are fairly happy in your life - surely that is all that matters? So what if you are slightly higher in the autism spectrum - as long as you and your family are happy with the way you are is there any point in pursuing a definate dx?

PeachyPlumFairy · 08/12/2005 15:50

I got 38. !!! I've been considering going to my GP anyway (have a son with AS) but decided not to after I discussed it with someone and they threw it back at me.

Bit of a shock isn't it?

Does it affect my life? Yes, i'm scatty, find it difficult to get attached to things (which menas I lose everything) and talk to people face to face.

Katemum · 08/12/2005 15:57

I got 37, didn't think it would be quite that high but I am really not good in social situations.

Original poster
Introvert · 08/12/2005 16:14

"Bit of a shock isn't it?" - god, yes!

ParrupupumScum: you make a lot of very good points there, not sure I know the answers yet, but something to think about. They are both boys (heh, I should have been more devious and concealy, obviously )

ImdreadinganAUTIExmas: you're absolutely right. And I'm oscillating between "oh don't be so bloody ridiculous, things aren't as bad as lot of people have it, ffs" and "hmm, this is something to keep an eye on".

Of course, the more I think of it, the more I think of situations which make me think "hmm" more - but I don't know if that's just that you're aware of it rather than being a genuine issue. Like yesterday, when ds1 got REALLY worked up about his best friend calling him a "cheeky monkey" on the way home from school - none of us mums could work out why he didn't understand it was just a bit of friendly banter (especially as I've called him that in the past) - it's almost as if in a different context, he couldn't work that out. At the same time, it could just be a bit of old-fashioned social ineptness that he'll grow out of with practise.

OH... I don't know. I'm talking myself in and out of stuff in the same breath at the moment, aren't I?? I think I'll just hold fire and see if those loose traits start to become something that's interfering in his life/school life...

OP posts:
chipmonksRoastingOnAnOpenFire · 08/12/2005 16:57

Look at it this way: do you need a diagnosis to be able to live with yourself? Some people are better socially than others, other people are better at maths or music etc, some people are better looking than others. Supposing you had a diagnosis of Apergers. What does that change? You are successful in your life. Play to your strengths, thats all anyone can do.

Kelly1978 · 08/12/2005 17:05

I got ten, but then I am quite outgoing. I'm not convinced that it is that useful, because looking at the questions, if you are simply shy then you are going to score highly. Aspergers involved more than just shyness.

Tamba · 08/12/2005 17:20

I got 19

I have a younger brother with AS and also my step father too.

KateF · 08/12/2005 17:29

I scored 34 which shocked me although I had expected to score quite highly. I have long suspected I could have AS characteristics but I function fine, love my kids although struggle sometimes with needing time alone (which I never get) and to be organised-being late upsets me a lot. I am just me and I manage . Thanks for the link though!

BudaBabeInAManger · 08/12/2005 17:31

I got 11.

But have had my concerns about DH so will try to get him to do it.

walkinginawinterBundleland · 08/12/2005 17:32

i got 6

hoXMASchick · 08/12/2005 17:33

i got 6 too.

PeachyPlumFairy · 08/12/2005 17:41

Can I just say- I think this yesta measures social aptitude rather than AS. The questions my aon faced prior to his dx were far more complex and covered things like sensory awareness, linguistics etc.

Blossomgoodwill · 08/12/2005 17:43

Scored 17, which is about average for a woman. Very interesting as lots of the things metioned are relevant to dd.

BudaBabeInAManger · 08/12/2005 17:45

I have read somewhere that there is a type of "emotional autism" and i have long wondered if my DH might have a tendency to this.

He is high achieving, into numbers etc etc.

OK socially when he knows people (in fact good socially) but comes accross as very cold when he doesn't.

But he just doesn't seem to "get" feelings.

Anyone any experiecne of this?

BoozyChristmacwoozy · 08/12/2005 17:45

My dp scored 34 which doesn't suprise me. Our ds has high functioning autism, and it was only after my ds was diagnosed that I started to question my dp's social difficulties.

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