Another do I have AS thread

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Like the many before me, I am posting here because of a growing number of question marks about what was previously thought as normal.

Background : Pecularities, sure.

A lifetime of being 'strange or weird' has not really been anything to be bothered about. A friend who has self-diagnosed himself with all manners of diseases (both physical and mental) thinks that I have autism/aspergers (terms interchangable , not sure which he means). I disagree, and felt it is more of a projection of the self diagnosis onto me. I have lived with him before, so he has a fair idea of some of the habits I have.

Problem - The girlfriend had denied any level of diagnosable problem, especially to do with AS because in her eyes there is nothing that can be done about it. I figured something similar and left it at that. Recently she asked me if I thought I had AS, I said no, why? Then she began to cite some of the things I did as being similar to another person who was considered/diagnosed autistic.

That is the point of questioning, where someone who is skeptical and very close, comes around to ask the question. I don't understand what a positive diagnosis would mean other than some label. Some people, if in any way similar to my friend find it a thing to wave around and tell everyone about.

Is there an point to getting an actual diagnosis? I am pretty apprehensive about the implications of a positive one, so a little advice about what it entails (why and how it can benefit/detract) would help.


I took the Aspie quiz and got 136 for AS and 78 for NT (whatever that is). I tend to answer conservatively on quizzes in general, more likely to sit on a little rather than an outright yes. Pretty disappointed with the result, to say the least. It isn't a foregone conclusion, but I dont like the indicator.

NT = Neurotypical.

To me it seems neurotypical score is high. Sounds like you might have AS traits or be "borderline" AS but you didn't explain much in your post.

AS criteria: http://www.aspergers.com/aspcrit.htm

About diagnosing-- it can be difficult to diagnose, especially in adults, and intentionally costly. If you aren't impaired in anyway you won't fit the criteria anyway but it's pretty much only worth it if you are or feel like you just need to know.

Hey soltek,

Welcome To



I had a lifetime of the rest of the world being strange and weird, took a while to consider the alternative. As for your quiz results, it's for a general reference only, though many are extremely accurate, but not all. There are a variety other possibilities to consider, all of which can be found within the experiences posted around the forum. And yes, it can be Very expensive for adult diagnosis, but there again, you can find others in your state who share the same experiences and they can give you a general idea. For me it was a confirmation of what I already had learned through obsessive research and process of elimination. The results are only disclosed to those on a "need to know" basis. Most don't need to know. It's an inside solution to an inside problem.

“Hello,” soltek, and welcome greetings to the Wrong Planet community.

I got the skeptical girlfriend to answer the quiz on how she sees me. What is depressing is that the overall score was higher for AS and lower for NT for when I filled out the form myself.

Thanks for the welcomes.

buryuntime - i dont know what i need to explain about traits - the main offending behaviours which trigger off AS suspicion? just the way i deal with people (not normal, so i am told) and live in my own world (concentration/thoughts/behaviours) and the occasional misc things.

DaWalker - that is true, but people still talk. I am not really functioning normally, and it does cause problems now and then. I don't see it as a problem when alone, but if I have to interact with others it can be.

Aside from personal self-awareness (and there are several internal psychological adjustments that come with having your own strong suspicions made official), formal diagnosis is primarily a necessity if you have problems surviving on your own and (at any point in your life) may need public assistance to avoid becoming homeless.

As for the cost of obtaining a diagnosis - don't let anyone convince you its prohibitively expensive. It didn't cost me a dime. There are Mental Health facilities (in the US at least) that are happy to help low or no income patients, it just requires filling out paperwork and they'll even help you with that. I went in for help with depression and anxiety and specifically asked to be evaluated for AS in the process.


As far as a LABEL causing people to discriminate against you - I still face the same discrimination and bullying I've dealt with since childhood, but not because anybody knows I have AS - the people who use, abuse and treat me like dirt don't care enough to bother understanding what that is. They're the people least likely to believe or accept that I even have a disability. They treat me badly because they perceive me as ODD or WEAK. They would do the same to anyone they thought of as vulnerable.

The people smart enough to have a clue what a learning disability is, or to see my past behaviors in light of this new information - they treat me pretty much the same way they always have - not with deference to a handicap - just as a person.

To WrongPlanet!! !

Welcome to WP!