Best Test for Aspergers & Ability to Move Away from Spectrum

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What test do you guys feel is best at accurately diagnosing Aspergers? Does anyone else really struggle to answer the questions as they can't really envisage the situation they're asking about or feel that their answer would be either extreme depending on a little more detail?

Furthermore, do you think it's possible to have Aspergers & move away from it? To try and clarify here's some examples that apply to me:
You realise at 5 you can't keep telling people you're a Milkman busy working to avoid playing with them
You can't collect bugs, insects & plants in jars hidden in clothes drawers as it upsets Mum and you're desperate to please her
You realise at 12 it's unlikely you can communicate with animals by sight and touch
You give up counting the letters in each word and sentence during conversations as it was too distracting between the ages of 15-16
You slowly stop analysing social interactions to death as much of it simply seems to repeats itself
You hardly ever feel need to rub the tip of each finger in a certain sequence, repeatedly, having done it loads throughout childhood and teens

There's obviously many more examples but they're the first that came to mind. I go between thinking I have it, to not. I test positive with one test and negative with another. I'm not even entirely convinced it matters outside of making me think about when to cut myself some slack.

No idea about the "best test" and I don't really think there could ever be one. In order to know which test was best, you'd need to know who was autistic and see which test produced the fewest incorrect results.

As you grow up, your behaviour will change, and for many people this will mean losing the strangest behaviours associated with autism. That doesn't necessarily mean you're "moving away from the spectrum", it's just part of growing up. Your autism probably manifests in different ways now.

Thanks for the response. I like your thinking.

Do you suppose it's possible to behave like the child I described (delayed speech through choice, practically mute during emotional events, excessive sleeper from birth, approached everything at break neck speed, very accident prone but never cried, double crown and double cows lick in hair, 2 large high risk birthmarks, ...) and be NT or am I quite obviously describing a child with Aspergers?

No worries if you'd rather not comment.

I'm no expert.

I'd say it's unlikely you're NT but you might not be autistic. I don't know of any conditions which exactly fit that bill.

Well, I know my endocrinologist, who I see for 1-on-1 10-minute (or less) sessions is quite certain that if ever I was autistic, I have long since moved away from it. Unfortunately for him, my mental health professionals, who have seen much more of me (and one of them has seen me since I was 13!), disagree.

Thanks guys. I'm now feeling I ought not to care about fitting my personality in a category and focus on learning more coping strategies for the roller coaster that is life. Best of luck to you guys navigating it all x

I wonder if the endocrinologist is speaking outside his/her field of competency. I have seen people incur harm when doctors do such things.

It is regrettable, and even shameful, when doctors run afoul their Hippocratic Oath to "first do no harm" by indulging in the natural human tendency to talk out of their arse. In some cases I rather suspect it could even be legally actionable.

Very true. It is a natural tendency, but not OK in that professional context.

The best test I've seen is definitely the ADOS.

If you are autistic you always will be autistic. But some autistics can learn enough "normal" skills or behavior to be highly or fully functional or appear "normal" or close to it.

I think this bill fits me or I'm NT with loads of Aspergers traits in my youth and teens. I'm grateful to my Mum who still gets regular phone calls by me checking my take on situations is OK. She's really struggled to understand me but has gave great advice & made me feel loved.
I recall being fascinated by social interaction as a child which developed into an obsession in my teens. I think this has helped me a lot.

I feel there's a real hurdle for people with Aspergers trying to adapt whilst remaining true to themselves. I sincerely wish everyone the best on this journey x

Awww. Thank you