Accuracy of Asperger's Tests

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I think this is a problem in self-tests. Context and perceiving the context is important to answering (which is noted as a trait that people with ASD often take statements/questions literally). Questions like: 'Are you drawn to tables of sports/stock information in the newspaper" could be answered "No" right away due to a not caring about stocks or sports, but if you think "Are they asking me if I'm drawn to any tables in general or specifically sports/stocks?", due to the context of the question the latter would be more accurate, and the answer could be "Yes" if you are drawn to tables regardless of the information. If a person with ASD has learned to read into context vs one who has not, the answers could be completely different between the two. Those sorts of questions seem unprofessional, where someone who is licensed would give a broader and more clear example, especially where a diagnosis could concern an impairment in answering such a question.

This is why, at best, the tests are a possible indicator only and not concrete. The Aspie quiz basically takes common traits of people with ASD and has you scale them to your own experience, which makes it a bit more unique and straightforward vs some of the other tests. It is more or less a check-list vs an actual test, that doesn't make it more or less valid as an indicator though, if you have many of those traits ASD can be possible or likely.

So, short answer is that they're not very accurate as a self-diagnostic, however some of then are based on actual tests and the results might merit getting checked out by a professional if it concerns you.

I got pretty high scores myself, and thought the same thing. Then I got my friend to do the tests, she is severely introverted and socially phobic, but she did NOT come up as Aspergers, whereas I did.

Mine, too.

Only an appropriately-trained mental health professional can make a valid diagnosis of AS/ASD.

Thank you everyone, following this i asked a health care professional in my family (Master in psychology) and he told me not to be concerned by all this. I might have traits but am far from this zone.

"80% of adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders scored 32 or more, compared with only 2% of the control group."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_quotient

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Edit:

But now comes the "funny" part about it:
Immagine that just 1% of all people have ASD compared to 99% who are NT (have something else).

80% of people with ASD would also just be approx. 8:1.000
compared to 2% of all people with NT, what would be approx. 20:1.000
who score at least 32 points in the AQ-Test.

What would mean that your chances being in the autistic spectrum, if you score at least 32 points in the AQ is just approx. 28,6%

That's also a good explenation why so many people get missdiagnosed with disorders, they don't have.
I'm not saing that you don't, but think about it that way!

Last edited by Raziel on 18 Apr 2013, 9:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

The last one, how does 78 or less indicate possible as when the average NT female scores around 75 and the average male around 57?

If i refer to the stats given, there is an overlap between normal and possible. You could just have mild traits and still be considered normal. I guess that when you complete go into the most severe portion, you could actually start considering serious consultation...

What do you mean? That the average person has mild traits?

I scored 86 the first time and 67 the second time

Well, there you have it - your suspicions have been discounted by an appropriately-trained professional.

Of course, you could always seek a second opinion ... or a third, a fourth, a fifth, and so on until you get a diagnosis you like.

I'm in my early 30s, male, and have always felt considerably different than the others - generally disinterested, unattached, withdrawn, etc... But the internet changed all that - I found I could talk to thousands of people far more easily than I could talk to one... though I was still unable to work cooperatively with them... too many personality conflicts.

Anyway, my scores:

AQ: 42
EQ: 9
FQ: 13

I took the tests multiple times and answered the questions to which I felt multiple answers applied and had, surprisingly, pretty much the same scores. My lowest AQ score was 41. EQ didn't change a lick, and the FQ - I actually only took once... though I was in an entirely different category than the test seemed to consider for the questions of concern.

Reading more and more about the childhoods of Aspies, I am really quite surprised by how well my childhood correlates... My wife has a psychology degree (and is experienced with Aspies) and agrees that I am probably a highly adapted Aspie.

Anyone else with similar scores (Aspies or not?). Also, would it be worthwhile to seek an official diagnosis? I feel I can mostly manage fairly well (though I've never held a normal job in my life... that would be impossible...).

I'd find it ironic that a doctor would dismiss how you score on multiple "self assessments" for AS when they'd take you seriously if you suspected you had cancer based on a "self assessment" test.