Autistic Spectrum Quotient
You can test your Autistic Spectrum Quotient . It a simple multiple choice questionnaire so its not going to diagnose autism but indicate if you have certain autistic traits. Developed by Cambridge’s Autism Research Centre they found the average, normal adult’s score was about 16 and that most people diagnosed as autistic scored over 30. When I took it I scored 25 so definitely more autistic than the average person which supports the hypothesis that dyslexia and mild autism overlap to some degree.
The study used to validate the test has some interesting bit in it: “Among the [normal population], males scored slightly but significantly higher than women … The students in Cambridge University did not differ from the randomly selected control group, but scientists (including mathematicians) scored significantly higher than both humanities and social sciences students, confirming an earlier study that autistic conditions are associated with scientific skills. Within the sciences, mathematicians scored highest“.
Before taking the test is is worth stressing: “[it] is not diagnostic [test], but may serve as a useful instrument in identifying the extent of autistic traits shown by an adult of normal intelligence. A score of 32+ appears to be a useful cut-off for distinguishing individuals who have clinically significant levels of autistic traits. Such a high score on the AQ however does not mean an individual has Aspergers or High Functioning Autism“
The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) : Evidence from Asperger Syndrome/High Functioning Autism, Males and Females, Scientists and Mathematicians [PDF]
Find Out More:
Books:
- Interactive Metronome Research
- Worksheets! For Teaching Social Thinking and Related Skills: Breaking Down Concepts for Teaching Students with High Functioning Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Pdd-nos, Nonverbal Learning Disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Adhd
- ADHD Alternatives: A Natural Approach to Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- My Friend with Autism: A Coloring Book for Peers and Siblings
- Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior
September 17th, 2005
Autism, Autism Tests & Diagnosis, Science
Comments on: Autistic Spectrum Quotient
i have aspergers
Posted by: anna June 11th, 2007 at 6:11 am
i have aspergers
Posted by: anna June 11th, 2007 at 6:11 am
I scored a 38, which is not surprising since it runs in my family and my son has it.
Posted by: Brenda July 4th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
The 1st time I took this test I got 44, the 2nd time 45. I thought I just had the social skills of a brick.
Posted by: David August 7th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I have high functioning autism with very high IQ and scored 34. I can relate to the person who mentioned having the social skills of a brick. It’s so frustrating even when you are trying to not be a social idiot! (sigh)
Posted by: Allen January 15th, 2009 at 4:10 am
I have asperger too. I can predict very accurately what other people will think, act and behave or how the mind process works, but I am completely unable to even smile without it being fake.
I have a problem of memory, because after giving attention to a subject I don’t particularly care about, I obtain high levels of performance, but after I use what I learnd, my memory get erased completely (on that topic). I can’t remember a number or a date to save my life, but I do remember every detail of social interactions, psychoanalysis and what has been said. When I passed the IQ tests, I scored High and low levels depending on ‘when I passed it’ (before or after erasing everything). People had a hard time explaining this strange developement.
I usually interact with people by pretending to be someone else that I have studied a little time before. The results are awesome, but I end up completely depressed and in need for loneliness after a week or two of faking.
Sometimes, I really wonder why I have to live in socity while I could be more usefull researching on my field… (that is not number related).
Posted by: Mimi March 19th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
I scored 42, which I’m not too surprised about!! I was recently diagnosed with a personality disorder which i thought was a bit of a cop-out from the mental health authority. I have always felt different even from early childhood, I was extremely shy, didn’t talk very much, shyed away from physical affection. I feel like such a social idiot, i don’t know how to start conversations with strangers or make small talk unless its about one of my ‘passions’. I get very angry and frustrated easily and this makes me behave a bit like a child (I’m 28). I struggle to make friends and keep friends, but I have created attachments, almost obsessions with certain people and when they remove themselves from my world I struggle to cope with this change- i can’t deal with it. I have to play out my day in my head, I’ve learnt how to pretend to empathsise (can’t remember how to spell that word) with people, though generally this is fake. There are other traits that I have that seem abnormal or affect my life (impulses). I don’t know if I have some form of mild autism , but the psychiatrist who saw me (for a mere 40 minutes) and who diagnosed me asked me if i had autism which i thought was rather odd, i responded with a no as i thought of autism in its more severe form. Anyway I don’t know what to do? Its extremely difficult to see a psyc; but I know its under-diagnosed in women and the traits also appear slightly differently in women i.e. more emphasis on shyness and oversensitivity (I’ve lost count how many times i’ve been called too sensitive). Any advice??
Posted by: Gemma March 30th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I scored 39 on this test. I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, ADHD but I have always felt different since my childhood. I dont know if I have any autism or asperger’s, I only know that I am not good in social skills, conversations with other people, I totally hate being disturbed when I am doing something I have found interesting to do or when I am daydreaming, I dont have any friends, I hated going to school cos all kids were like aliens to me and the teachers too, I hate it when some one messes with my things or misplaces them, I am good in arts as well as math/science, I love the details as well as the whole picture but I am a total idiot when it comes to day to day dealing with people-including my parents, politics and other stuff these people do and though I have learnt many languages (5 in total) I really cant explain my feelings or find the right words to speak with anybody in any particular language except english to some extent. I prefer being alone, I talk to myself, I pretend a lot when I am alone.
I dont know if I am autistic or not or if I have asperger’s but all I know is I am very different from others and it is very depressing but still I am happy to be who I am and have learnt to live with it.
Any advice on if I have autism or any thing of the sort?
Posted by: Sheryl June 25th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Leave a Reply