I am David, and I am in my 50s. On a whim six months ago, I completed the University of Cambridge Autism Research Centre Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) (Adult) screening test, and expected the same kind of score that someone with a Magic 8 Ball would expect; interesting, but inconclusive. But, I did wonder a little about how close to the control-scores threshold my own score would be. I was surprised when my score was a 43 out of 50 where 26 is the threshold score among known Aspies. In the next weeks, I scored similarly with the Empathy Quotient (EQ) for Adults, Systemizing Quotient-Revised (SQ-R) (Adult), and Friendship and Relationship Quotient (FQ) screening tests. And, while not designed for self reporting, I scored similarly with the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) screening test.
Well, with such scores, I read several research papers and books including The Complete Guide to Asperger?s Syndrome by Tony Attwood to get some information about common characteristics and severity. Based on Attwood and the various diagnostic criteria, my characteristics include previous diagnoses for depression, generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder as well as observed hyperlexia, autodidacticism, perfectionism, stereotypy, social exhaustion, blunt honesty, sensory sensitivity (sound), resistence to eye contact, anger expression, synesthesia, school (and work) absenteeism, resistence to playing team sports while excelling in individual sports, dysgraphia and childhood neologia; and, my severity is usually a DSM-5 Level 1 (but, changes sometimes under very stressful situations).
In the absence of a standardized diagnostic test for AS among adults, I am content with using my several screening-test scores and observed characteristics to conclude personally that I probably have AS. As with many other adult Aspies, my opinion certainly explains many nagging behaviors and routines I have had throughout my life.
I had read about WrongPlanet during my research phase, but never knew until today that it offered a great forum. Because Utah doesn?t apparently offer any adult AS social groups (but lots of childhood AS and ASD groups), I am happy to call this forum my Aspie-to-Aspie socialization. Yay!
