Getting real, or dishonest? (AS questionnaires)

Post Reply New Topic

Take the RDOS for example.

It asks if I tap my ears. I have been answering "no". I rub them (constantly); I only tap during EFT and that's not on the ears.

It asks if I like to jump over things. I have been answering "no". I like to jump onto and between things (curbs, steps, rocks); at my age I'd be afraid to jump over something and twist my ankle.

I was diagnosed with ASD, but I keep coming up as borderline ASD (or even NT) on written tests. Could it be that I am too literal even for an ASD test? By answering these questions "yes" would I be answering in the "spirit" of the question and the results would be more accurate, or would I be lying and pathologizing myself?

If I were to rewrite these questions, I would say "or similar" so folks don't have to lie to be honest!! !! !!

I sense you are taking these questions a bit over-literally.

I thought ASD folks generally were literal. There's an over literal?

The assessor repeatedly remarked about honesty; he did not clarify the relationship with literalness. When I asked about how to answer a question he said he could only help with word definition. Well, I was diagnosed ASD despite "failing" the ASD tests. I guess in this way my "failure" is yet another indicator of ASD. An even stronger indicator of ... something. How can the tests be written that someone who takes things literally can't answer them "correctly"?

Just because something is taken literally-----doesn't mean it's not correct.

In truth, most people would have just answered the jumping question in the affirmative----even if it wasn't actually "jumping over" something.

Please don't feel that you did something "wrong." I don't feel that way.

Answer only the questions you are asked, and only as they are asked.

"Do you tap your ears?" does not ask if your cat taps her ears, if you scratch your ears, if you tap your cat's ears, or if you tap your nose. The question asks only if you tap your ears, and the correct answer is either 'No' or 'Yes'.

There is no such thing as being 'too' literal. You are either literal, or you tend to make incorrect assumptions about what was meant. If people will not say what they mean, then that's on them, not you.

I answered the questionnaires as literally as possibly, and received an almost immediate diagnosis that confirmed my suspicions.

If you take something literally----sometimes it's correct to take it literally. Hence, it is not "over-literal."

If you take something literally which is actually incorrect---then, in my opinion, you are being "overly" literal.

Being over-literal or too picky on these tests is certainly a thing. When getting my diagnosis I think the psych got a bit annoyed because, in trying to be honest, I basically got pedantic about every single question he asked.

Well, what?

Context. That's the secret word.....

How do you determine the context for: "27. Do you tap your ears?"?

I probably would assume the questioner means: "Any purposeful action from my hands/fingers which comes in contact with my ear or ears, especially if it's relatively light contact."

If taken literally, a "tap" would mean relatively light contact with the ear/ears, rather than harder contact with the ear/ears.

If you "box" your own ears, you are not "tapping" them.

Tapping one's ears creates a different impression, and a different result, than boxing one's ears.

Many times, one has to employ context in order to accurately discern a situation.

I recently had a situation in which I puzzled someone as I had taken a question too literally. I mean... Well. Most of the problems I get is that I could answer questions from many perspectives from being totally shutdown to being totally active. So it is very difficult, but some answers I give are the most likely worst case sinario or the best case as the question relates...
So the recent question is that I need to make a visit to a benefits assessment centre. It is in the big city on the forth floor of a building. They say they have a lift though I always use the stairs. I have been stuck in three lifts in my younger years and it has scared me of lifts, apart from not liking confined places that I can't see out of as I feel boxed in.
But ok, as long as I am not too stressed I can climb stairs as well, or better then most others. If I am in a partial shutdown it is difficult, and if shutdown it is a no way.
But they wanted me to guarantee that if there was a fire I could get down the stairs. I can't guarantee as if I shut down I can't. Normally though I would be the first to get out out of nurves! It said to phone to let them know if I can't. I don't like phoning and will put off phonecalls, but as long as I have a while to mentally plan the call I am fine though I prefer not to.
I phoned and the man who answered who is supposed to know roughly speaking about the various conditions that people have did not know what shutdowns were when I mentioned them and when I explained to him what happens. He asked "Are you dissabled and in a wheelchair?" I said "No". He answered "Then you can walk down the stairs in an emergency" as a statement of fact. All I could do is say "Usually yes" (As long as I don't shut down and I can't 100% guarantee that I will not shut down when an unexpected emergency event takes place as lately unexpected things have sent me in the shutdown direction as I have been fragile in this respect).

But at least I've done my part and let them know my concerns that I can't 100% guarantee it and leave it all in their hands. The chances of a fire and me shutting down at the same time are very slim. But I can't say 100% honestly that I won't shut down so I will not be able to go down 72 steps. (They say there are 72 steps).

When I am not fragile and stress free I could run up and down the stairs! But it is the variable aspect which gives me so much difficulty when it comes to form filling and making defined statements as I can not give a yes or no answer.

@Fnord, good for you that the standardized ASD tests describe your ASD type literally. I want them to describe my ASD type. I want to be included in the standard. Rubs ears (not "taps"), jumps onto (not "over"), is patronized (not "accused"), lives minimally and efficiently (not "routinely"), seeks sensations (big events, travel; albeit melts down), desperately seeks connection ("uninvited" guest! come on in; albeit fails), ad nauseum. When I answer RDOS approximately I get 145 (belonging), when I answer literally I get 125 (edge).

@KraftieKortie, ROTFLOL. Somebody needs to rewrite the test questions like that.

@MountainGoat, exactly (transient or unpredictable conditions). In the US some places have evacuation zones for disabled, so a helper would need to get you just that far and then first responders would assist. Not that this is useful for you, but I once made a minor contingency plan for an emergency and by golly it happened and I was a little prepared. In some ways I wish I had made more plans, but as you point out we can only go so far relative to risks and in any case who's to know if it would have been better or worse than how it played out. Like you implied.