I think I might have been wrong...

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According to your own explanations the BAP+ gifted makes the most sense to me too (from my outsider/online stranger perspective). Lots of people say that BAPs are generally found in families (but not necessarily always-I would guess ie. skip a generation or two maybe). Would you say your family seems BAP? If so, then the likelihood of you being BAP or on the spectrum is greatly increased. I would still stick with the BAP/gifted thing though, solely based on that post you just wrote--but I could be off. Either way, whether BAP or AS, you are you--but then I think you are smart enough to realize that labels don't define who we are.

That's true. I find that is why the ADIR is a good diagnostic interview though, since it focuses on early childhood from the perspective of someone who is not the potentially autistic individual. That way they can apply the diagnostic criteria to early childhood, and use the ADOS to see how the autism manifests today. I think that is much more beneficial than tests that are solely self-reflective. I don't think the outcome for me would have been the same had I been asked to do all self-reflective tasks/questions.

Also, to be clear, I didn't say that to tell SammichEater that he was autistic or not, just throwing the information out there.

I am genuinely tired of self-reflective tests. I've taken as many as I could find and they all point to the same conclusion. What else can I learn from them? Would so much prefer ADOS and ADI-R.

Those online quizzes are not meant to be diagnostic in nature though--just to give a general idea. My Mom took the AQ test and scored a 35. That put her slightly above the average Aspie score. As far as I can tell, she is NOT on the spectrum, but I would bet that she is definitely BAP (I have autism, my nephew almost certainly has either autism or aspergers--not diagnosed, and her father I also suspect to have been on the spectrum). I think it COULD be easy for BAP people to score closer to the AS average. I read in a scientific book once that non-autistic parents of autistic children often score much higher than the average NT on the AQ, but lower than their autistic child. This makes sense. What is your AQ score?

Oh I knew that. My comment was just a general comment related to yours--not to counter or protest anything you've said.

My mom is NT, my dad is also BAP with far above average intelligence. I don't know my dad's side of the family all that well. On my mom's side, half of my cousins are intellectually gifted, but all are NT.

I know I care way too much about labels than I should. AS has been my obsession since March of this year; I really can't help it.

In some ways, this is very similar to finding out about AS. Many of you here know what that's like. When I first read the article about intellectual giftedness on Wikipedia, I got that same feeling. I became paranoid thinking that I don't have AS, but now, I can accept that if I don't, I'm not going to have an identity crisis.



I know that. But seriously, how many people, even gifted people, get scores in the 36-43 range?

Never mind, I take that back. Actually, it wouldn't surprise me. I really don't know how I can put this without coming off as egotistical, but there is a huge difference between "gifted" and "smart." The basic distinction is that smart people are normal people who just work hard in school, where gifted people don't have to work hard in school. Most computer programmers and such are smart. Only a small handful of people, the top 2%, are considered gifted. Statistically, this makes even more sense (in reference to previous personal experiences). That is why I don't fit in with nerds. Because even among nerds, only a small percentage are still considered gifted. In some ways, it is just like AS. While many aspies are nerds, only a small percentage of nerds are aspies.

One data point I want to mention is from a thread on procrastination: You said the way to deal with procrastination is to "just do it." Which is, I think, not particularly typical or expected of people on the autistic spectrum. "Just do it" is actually downright difficult for many, for various cognitive reasons that one can't simply turn off or override with willpower, or at least not on a consistent basis. Many develop coping mechanisms to work around this, such as schedules, lists, and routines, but it is so often not so simple as "just do it."

Another was when you said you didn't think AS was disabling because you didn't feel impaired.

You probably remember these, but they do seem to support your idea that you are gifted and not AS.

I am actually both gifted and autistic - and ADHD as well. Does that make me thrice exceptional? I doubt it. But it can be really frustrating because the expectations people have because of giftedness are difficult to meet because of impairments from an ASD and ADHD.

Yes, I remember that. I never understood why I received such disagreements in those threads, but it makes sense now. Please forgive my ignorance.

I actually am twice exceptional though, irregardless of my AS status. I have poor working memory, I can't multitask, and my processing speed is much slower than normal. Time constraints on tests are a huge problem for me.

This is a good point, and likely not very many. Still 35 is not far from 36, and my Mom is not autistic (so it can happen.)

I just deleted the rest of your post, so I won't quote directly, but what is the difference between gifted and smart? I mean, is it based solely on IQ or other characteristics as well?

What is with all the people who are delusional enough, to believe that, their is such a thing, as oneself one being either Superior our Inferior. Do you see one who is without the 2e status as merely a thing. Something to be looked down upon. I was 2 years old when I began the self stimuli. It involved me bashing my head against the floor, I was talking by two and a half years of age, but I slowly started to lose my speaking skills by seven years of age, yet by grade 5, I was reading on a senior level. I was to be put in the "gifted" category at one time, but I missed so much school, due to my less refined social skills. Specifically I would be terrified almost to the point of irrationality, to go in front of a classroom, to get up and move around, to even transition completely to another subject because I was Immersed in my analysis of different puzzles, my books, my subject material etc. I was diagnosed with PDD, the umbrella diagnosis when I was three years of age, then ADHD and later in life, after many points of issue were noted, I would be diagnosed with aspergere's syndrome as a revisal of my past diagnosis. It was later noted that I had a difficult condition to diagnose, so that in 2007, I was reevaluated and diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety disorder, depression, and ODD at the University of Iowa Hospital. It was just recently, that I was reevaluated, and hopefully given my finale diagnoses, Which is ADHD/ADD, Autism Spectrum disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which the last two weren't what I was being specifically evaluated for. So I take medical amphetamines, such as Adderall, and it actually helps me concentrate to the point of raising my mathematical comprehension level and speed in computations, I can write 4 to 5 college level essays, in less than 3 hours, I remember everything I learned in History, science seemed easy and fun, and I did and still do have fun when debating a topic or subject. Another thing it did for me, is take away my anxiety and inhibitions, I am outgoing, easy to talk to, and making friends all of the time, when Im on Adderall. But for the greater part of my life, I did prefer to play video games by myself, I read a lot of books, and magazines, and I had about one friend at a time, so I've never really had a best friend. But now Im more socially adept. So I realize that people are different from each other. That's what's called Neurodiversity, we all think differently from one another. and so things, or events will affect any two persons differently in any given situation,. So theirs no standard or optimum way of thinking in the world of psychology.

S. at one point you said you ruled out ADD because of this or that didn't match up . Are you sure? I see you bouncing around in a loop with all this. ( no pun or humor here.)

I believe what are experiencing is real and you wouldn't be here just on plain giftedness. At 17 you'd do yourself a favor to get this checked out. One thing is certain to me, with those above symptoms likely you will experience problems once you are out on your own, if you wing this yourself, and put it off until such time. What If you are ADD?

Do you discuss this with your folks? Are they interested? How about a favorite teacher? Imagine someone wise, and now imagine you were to ask this one, " I'm not really sure, I might be BAP or very mild AS, I think not ADHD, what should I do? " Likely they would tell you what? To sit on it, or try to get to the bottom of it?

Most people probably don't really understand the difference, but I do because I live it.

http://www.tag-tenn.org/comparison.html

http://gleigh.tripod.com/brightvG.htm

It's really just a list of characteristics. I've never taken an official IQ test, but, from looking at past experiences, I definitely fall under the gifted category. In elementary school I would daydream all day and still test well because I already knew the material. I've only studied a few times in my entire life, and my GPA is a 3.9 right now. I've never actually needed to study.



I don't know, you tell me. Nowhere in this thread are the words superior and inferior used (up until now). You're the one being delusional here.



You're right, but nobody ever said there was. That is completely irrelevant to this thread.

Actually, I have an answer for you. The answer is nearly 5% of men get an AQ score above 35.

What are some traits/characteristics that are associated with a higher AQ score? Introversion and depression and there are others as well, but I think those were responsible for my high AQ score that was higher than my "real score" when I took it the first time. If you consider traits that are positively associated with aspergers that you happen to possess (And I'd imagine most people predisposed to forum use are introverts...), probably closer to 10% or above would score an AQ higher than 35, while statistically less than 10% would *actually* be "autistic". There'd probably be even a higher qualifying percentage among depressed introverts (And if you're really NT, then lacking real social contact IS depressing even if you're an introvert which ironically would likely increase your AQ score.)

If your sources are correct, then that would make sense. I'm not exactly sure what makes you think depression would raise the score, though. I am introverted, but I'm far from depressed. I am more than content with my life the way it is now.



I think you might be getting me mixed up with someone else, but whatever. I have a few of the inattentive symptoms, but that's it. In some ways, it does seem like I could have it, but in others, I'm the exact opposite.

In some ways, I agree with you. In others, it's kinda hard to believe. Yes, I have autistic traits. I wasn't totally off thinking that I'm an aspie. But, the more I research this, the more sense it makes that I'm only slightly autistic, and most of my traits are in fact due to giftedness, introversion, or a combination of the three.

Do you think that I wouldn't be here if I was just gifted? If so, that's where you're wrong. First of all, there are a lot of gifted people on WP, so I still feel comfortable here. Secondly, this is WP. "Wrong planet" is exactly where I've thought I've been living all my life. Many gifted people feel the same way, even the most neurotypical of them (sources listed below). Thirdly, AS has been my most recent interest. Of course I'm going to spend a lot of time here.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/roddreher/201 ... enius.html

http://www.alifeofthemind.com/2011/03/2 ... he-gifted/

I'm not going to be moving out and living on my own anytime soon. At the very earliest I will be moving out in 4 years from now. Living on my own is not my concern right now. My primary concern is school, and I'm not having any problems with that. Not to mention, my organizational skills have always been underestimated. This next week will be the fourth week of school this year. So far, I have been reminded to do my homework 0 times, I have left the house with the door unlocked 0 times, I have left my car unlocked 0 times, and I have yet to lose any of my identification cards, documents, and phone. I have had no problems with keeping up good hygiene habits. I rely on my parents to pay the bills and buy food, but that's it. I'm pretty sure I'll be ready to live on my own (or with an older cousin of mine) by the time I'm 21 years old going into university. And if not, I still won't be living far away from my parents and extended family.

Yes, I have discussed this with my parents. They aren't concerned in the least. They were never totally sure of my AS to begin with, saying that I *might* have it mildly. They have always known that I'm gifted, so this is no surprise. As I said before, it's really just a change in perspective. If I find that I absolutely cannot pass a class without having extra time on my tests, then I'll get evaluated if the professor is going to be anal about it. But until then, there's no reason to.

I do not how you're deriving this from anything that's been posted in this thread. I don't see anyone here saying that anyone should be looked down upon or that other people as "merely things."

Gifted Aspergers, I have no doubt here. There is giftedness present and a Dx.
Here is one example below of how this looks( Aspergers) from a Gifted one without Aspergers.
My point is simply that likely, with enough time, the tipping point is quickly reached. If not then, there is something present, whether AS or ADHD, etc. I saw a thread developed on the theme of giftedness and a query of, "do I have AS," by such ones. A few hit a very high Aspie score, the others just "NT "as the next guy. I don't remember the number who posted in this. Their asocial characteristics and sensitivity, alone-ness--isolation, "difference" led to this thread.

I have a hunch this "feeling" would be common, but sorted out quickly as in the below posts.






http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp999347.html#999347