Do I have Asperger's?

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Hi i'm a 12 year old girl and my mum has always said that i'm probably autistic because I'm very shy but came across as being rude when I was younger because my face would go really blank when I felt shy. I've always been really socially 'awkward'. I've looked up symptoms of Aspergers quite a few times and have realised that I have quite a few habits that would be considered as Aspergers symptoms.
1: I have travel sickness.
2:I hate the feel of a certain material. Do you know the weird feel of holograms if you drag your fingers across them? And also the sound of someone touching one? Both of them make me feel ill and give my a headache.

3 Obsessed with tv shows or books. Harry potter then modern family then Sherlock. I'm also a dedicated directioner but I don't think that counts

4 I don't like parties or discos because I have to shout in order to be heard. I also associate parties with socialising so they are basically a 'no no'. I will look forward to going to a party but once I get there, I just want to leave. I don't hate any other noise, though I do sometimes mistake noises for voices.

5 I have VERY bad social skills. I'm so shy that I will sit on a table in the corner of a room with my head down rather then go over and say hi to a new group of people. The only way I make friends is if someone else makes the first move. BUT, once I make friends I DO NOT SHUT UP. I go on and on and on in a very loud voice and give no one any chance to speak. If, at the time, I think that something I say will make me sound cool, I raise my voice so that everybody in the room will hear. I also, at the time of the conversation, think that talking about my obsessions will make me sound cool, and I also want to show how much I know about the topic, so I will go on and on about them too. I know deep down that I am being weird but I just can't physically shut up. I used to think I was a Tom-boy because I didn't like to play things that involved pretending and Ive only very recently started to care about my clothes and apperance.

6 I like to arrange things. This isn't a very 'stand-outish' symptom but I have noticed that I LOVE to put things in order. (Unfortunately, this doesn't mean that I have a tidy room). Basically, I will decide that I want to become good at chess, but will end up doing this: 1) taking out both sets of chess pieces, 2) spending about an hour messing around and putting the pieces into nice symmetrical patterns on the squares, 3) demolishing it and then sitting for a minute and realising that I just wasted an hour of my life on an irrational urge to be weird. I just find things like this satisfying. I don't do this often. I think it's just something to do with the squares on the chess board, because I feel like I am giving the pieces their own 'plot of land' :/

7: I don't like to be hugged by people unless they are my very close family. I also don't like eye contact with people I don't know well. It makes me feel exposed.

8 I'm VERY clever Academically and musically. I could read and write when I was 2 and was bullied for being a 'nerd' although I tried not to act like one. I've noticed that its alot easier to talk to adults.

9 I can't feel other's pain and haven't ever TRULY felt sorry for someone. I just struggle to put myself in their shoes. But I don't just state the truth even if it could hurt people.

10 I have bad posture and am dreadful at sports although I have good rhythm (I'm a percussionist). Also, I have seen this body trick that says "if you lift your right fur and turn it clockwise and at the same time draw a six with your right index finger, your right foot will start turning anti clockwise instead." Well, my foot doesn't change direction.

11 In the past few years, I have noticed that I speak in a monotone. I also speak VERY fast.

12 Say whatever is on my mind. Mostly with my mum and best friends, I will say the weirdest things that don't need to be verbalised. I also sometimes accidentally start telling my mum about my opinion on something, without telling her what the thing is :/

13 I often find that im talking to myself and plan scenarios in my head

14 I have an urge to chew sponges :/

15 I like to see things. If my mum is reading me something, I need to be able to read over her shoulder.

16 I'm a very logical thinker. I also never STOP thinking. This is a question that popped into my head whilst we were driving my sister to school: "If you are born on the 20th of April in the UK, and then go to live in Australia, where there is a time difference of 12 hours, would it be reasonable to celebrate your birthday on the 21ST of April in Australia, so that by celebrating your birthday on the 21ST (in Australia) you are celebrating your birthday closer to the time when you were actually born?" I know.

17 I Pick up on small details that others don't.the food so I wasn't likely to notice, such as the plates being used at my little sister's birthday buffet,(I was just a helper and wasn't even eating at the buffet).

18 I get distracted very easily when learning things that I find boring.

19 I have noticed that I stim as well. I always clasp my hands together then push my left hand with my right fingers and vice versa so that my hands look like they are rocking. I have also started rocking backwards and forwards when I am practicing piano. It's mainly when I'm quite tired or relaxed. I put my feet flat on the floor with my knees apart and slump forward with my elbows on my knees and my hands clasped in front of me (it probably makes me look like a boy!) then I rock back and forth. I think I do it because it makes me feel relaxed and kinda weightless. I also have noticed that, when I am sat on the sofa learning something boring (I'm home educated), I rock sideways with my body and head going in opposite directions. I think I sometimes do this when I am with my very close friends as well because I feel relaxed around them. I pace when I am thinking about random things. I also tilt my neck from side to side quite often and always tap my foot or drum my fingers or click a pen when I am trying to concentrate (but that might be because I'm a drummer)

Could I be an Aspie? My AQ score is only 29 but I took the 'Aspie test' and my aspie score is 119 and my NT score is 82/200. I know it would be very mild but I just want to know.(I am also hoping that I have it because the ASD community seem very nice )

First, I want to say that you should see a psychiatrist who specializes in children with autism if you're able to. Don't tell them that you think you're autistic. Just tell them what issues you're having. That being said, let's take a look at your reasons:

1: I have travel sickness. - Many people on the spectrum are hyper-sensitive to 'sensory experiences'. This means taste, touch, sight, smell. The feeling of motion might make you nauseous

2:I hate the feel of a certain material. - Same as above. Similarly you might love the feel of other things.

3 Obsessed with tv shows or books. - People on the spectrum do tend to form specific obsessions. However NT people also form obsessions with shows and books.

4 I don't like parties or discos because I have to shout in order to be heard. - Again with the senses. Parties and discos will cause sensory overload. An NT's brain filters out unnecessary things, like background noise. The brain of someone with ASD can't help but process every bit of information being sent to the brain. It overwhelms us and can make us exhausted. I have a hard time doing anything after grocery shopping due to the fluorescent lights, backgrounds music, people talking, and miscellaneous sounds going on. I need a nap after that.

5 I have VERY bad social skills. - Many of us are. We can't read people, we don't know when it's our turn to talk, and we don't have a filter on what we say so it comes out loud and often, especially when it's something that gets us excited.

6 I like to arrange things. - I do this as well. I also love to make lists and schedules. Not 100% sure if this is an autism thing, though.

7: I don't like to be hugged by people unless they are my very close family. I also don't like eye contact with people I don't know well. It makes me feel exposed. - This might be hypersensitivity to touch. I don't like my parents hugging or touching me, but my fiancee can. When it comes to eye contact, someone who knows about the brain, specifically the cortex, can answer this one better, but I feel the same way when I make eye contact with someone.

8 I'm VERY clever Academically and musically. I've noticed that its alot easier to talk to adults. - You may have matured faster than your peers. I don't have a good answer for this.

9 I can't feel other's pain and haven't ever TRULY felt sorry for someone. People on the spectrum tend to have difficulty with empathy. Not that we don't care, but just have trouble relating.

10 I have bad posture and am dreadful at sports although I have good rhythm (I'm a percussionist). Speaking from experience, this is typical of musicians

11 In the past few years, I have noticed that I speak in a monotone. I also speak VERY fast. - This is a common trait for people on the spectrum. Not sure why you speak monotone, but as for speaking fast, your brain might be processing information faster than you can speak. I bet you stumble on your words a lot too.

12 Say whatever is on my mind. - That lack of filter again.

13 I often find that im talking to myself and plan scenarios in my head - Many people do this.

14 I have an urge to chew sponges - You're probably drawn to the texture. I tend to eat foods that I like the texture of more than the taste. Try eating breads with lots of yeast. They make them spongy in texture.

15 I like to see things. - Most people on the spectrum are visual learners.

16 I'm a very logical thinker. - Not sure why this is, but we tend to question things that don't make logical sense.

17 I Pick up on small details that others don't. - Attention to detail is common in people on the spectrum. There was a test I was given when I was being diagnosed. The doctor showed me a picture and asked what I saw. I pointed out details that even he'd never seen, but I couldn't tell him what the meaning of the picture was. My dad came in and was able to tell the meaning right away. Look up 'bottom up processing'.

18 I get distracted very easily when learning things that I find boring. - I think a lot of people are like this.

19 I have noticed that I stim as well. - I can't really speak on this one. I only stim when I'm under stress.

You certainly have aspie traits. I think almost anybody could have at least a few. Many people on this site are self-diagnosed, which is fine if you really think that autism seems to fit, but I still recommend seeing a professional who specializes in autism. Just don't like a diagnosis define who you are.

Yeah, if you really want to pursue this, you really need to get a real diagnosis from a psychologist who specializes in autism. I mean my parents could have diagnosed me with autism, but that would not have done me any good.
I'm glad your mom seems to be onboard with the idea of you having it, that is helpful.
Welcome to WP and feel free to keep asking questions

Shadewraith, I think that not telling the psychiatrist about my suspicions is a great idea! I've heard that parents who go to doctors and say that their child has autism will just be told that they are paranoid! EzraS I'm very glad that my mum agrees with me I think my dad is going to need a bit more persuading though thanks for the welcome x

I agree with this 100%. Having been through lots of doctors, psychologists and therapists all my life - it is always better to act like its up to them initially to diagnose something, without showing them you have any preconceived ideas. Because yeah, paranoid, hypochondriac etc.



Its always something...

What has been seen cannot be unseen.

I sent you a private message.

Cheers.

We don't know.

It takes a series of personal interviews with an appropriately-trained, licensed, and experienced mental-health professional to make a valid diagnosis of an ASD. To the best of my knowledge, no such person is a member or moderator of the Wrong Planet website.

Online tests can not provide an objective ASD diagnosis, either.

Nothing contained in this site (especially the opinions of anonymous strangers) is or should be considered or used as a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider or delay seeking it because of something you have read on the Internet, including on the Wrong Planet website. I encourage you to seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your concerns in this matter.