AQ test, is it accurate?

[Mr P]

After a discussion about autism with a friend I took Simon Baron-Cohens AQ test. The blurb that comes with it says

In the first major trial using the test, the average score in the control group was 16.4. Eighty percent of those diagnosed with autism or a related disorder scored 32 or higher. The test is not a means for making a diagnosis, however, and many who score above 32 and even meet the diagnostic criteria for mild autism or Asperger's report no difficulty functioning in their everyday lives.

I got 39... now what?

[JOZeldenrust]

After a discussion about autism with a friend I took Simon Baron-Cohens AQ test. The blurb that comes with it says

In the first major trial using the test, the average score in the control group was 16.4. Eighty percent of those diagnosed with autism or a related disorder scored 32 or higher. The test is not a means for making a diagnosis, however, and many who score above 32 and even meet the diagnostic criteria for mild autism or Asperger's report no difficulty functioning in their everyday lives.

I got 39... now what?

I scored 22, and I am diagnosed with Asperger. I do experience considerable difficulties in my everyday life. You're fucked.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

33. But then I have mild Asperger's too.

[Animavore]

My score is still 11.

[Geoff]

My score is still 11.

I got 12, though quite a few of the questions I found ambiguous or incomplete.

For example:

I prefer to do things the same way over and over again. - depends whether it works or not.
I would rather go to the theater than to a museum. - depends on the play, and the museum.
I am not very good at remembering phone numbers. - depends how important it is to remember, and I'm a lot worse now than I was before mobile phones came along.
I don't usually notice small changes in a situation or a person's appearance. - depends who it is.

Meh...

[Warren Dew]

I got 39... now what?

Now you simply recognize that the neurotypicals who make up the majority of the population are different from us aspies, and you can't deal with them as if they are like us. Unfortunately, since neurotypicals are the majority, it's largely up to us to develop coping mechanisms for interacting with them, rather than vice versa.

I will say I'm really glad I found a fellow aspie, or at least borderline aspie, to marry, though. Close personal relationships with neurotypicals are quite difficult.

[hadespussercats]

I got a 13, but I agree with pretty much all of Geoff's objections-- thought a few of the exact same things when I was answering.

If you get a score closer to 1, are you a different kind of atypical? I should say, what kind of atypical would you be?

[Aos Si]

After a discussion about autism with a friend I took Simon Baron-Cohens AQ test. The blurb that comes with it says

In the first major trial using the test, the average score in the control group was 16.4. Eighty percent of those diagnosed with autism or a related disorder scored 32 or higher. The test is not a means for making a diagnosis, however, and many who score above 32 and even meet the diagnostic criteria for mild autism or Asperger's report no difficulty functioning in their everyday lives.

I got 39... now what?

I believe you have to report to the Ministry of Love for some re-education.

Unless you have any serious difficulties with social situations etc I'd ignore it, it could be you are just criplingly shy. If it was given by a Dr shouldn't they tell you what to do next?

I scored 5.

I am quite social, but I was a lot shier when I was younger so my score probably changed throughout my life.

I got a 13, but I agree with pretty much all of Geoff's objections-- thought a few of the exact same things when I was answering.

If you get a score closer to 1, are you a different kind of atypical? I should say, what kind of atypical would you be?

You are socially adept or an extrovert I would imagine. Or you are a dilitente who can't settle on one subject and is always looking for new experience. Hard to say really isn't it.

[Rum]

I scored 2. Is that bad?

[Aos Si]

I scored 2. Is that bad?

No by definition its good it means your not Aspergers or Autistic in the slightest. I wouldn't read more into it than that though. You still might be messed up but in other ways.

[hadespussercats]

I scored 2. Is that bad?

Hey, Mr. Social!

Off-topic, but I like your new avatar. It should be your author's photo if you write a comic memoir.

Something to pass the spare time?

[Warren Dew]

No by definition its good it means your not Aspergers or Autistic in the slightest. I wouldn't read more into it than that though. You still might be messed up but in other ways.

That assumes that being autistic is a bad thing.

[Rum]

No by definition its good it means your not Aspergers or Autistic in the slightest. I wouldn't read more into it than that though. You still might be messed up but in other ways.

That assumes that being autistic is a bad thing.

Quite so. The down side to being '2' is maybe lack of concentration, inability to focus etc..ADHD type of thing.

However the test is not designed or anything other than it says - aware of that!

Oh - and thanks Hades!

[Aos Si]

No by definition its good it means your not Aspergers or Autistic in the slightest. I wouldn't read more into it than that though. You still might be messed up but in other ways.

That assumes that being autistic is a bad thing.

It's not a good thing is it. But yes its not cerebral palsy.

[Coito ergo sum]

I scored a 7.