psychological testing

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Hi everybody
Has anyone heard of a psychologist using a personality test to rule out a diagnosis of autism? My daughters psychologist gave this self administered test to my daughter. He then stated according to the results of the test, my daughter had "histronic personality traits", and if she were autistic, she would not have been able to complete the test. This seems far fetched to me. Has anyone experienced this? Please let me know.

That doesn't sound accurate to me at all. I would definitely get a second opinion. I was diagnosed as an adult on the DSM-IV and the Gillberg. My son, who also has AS was diagnosed at the age of 8 using a combination of criteria (some extensive list of traits that the psychiatrist used on him). Then our school got a team of psychologists to administer their own tests and do observation of him in the classroom---and they determined he needed the IEP for autism. But never do I recall any type of test like you have mentioned. That doesn't make sense to me. Please keep us informed here---and I am curious as to what types of things were on that test she was given.

Welcome to the WrongPlanet as this was your first post. But I see you have been a member here longer than me having joined in 2007. Where have you been?

Did they say what they test was, i.e. "MMPI"? If so, they're using it improperly.

I didn't have to fill out a questionnaire but my mum did. I'm not sure what the test was called but it was asking questions about my early childhood development right up until the present day. However this was not the primary diagnostic tool, it was to identify what I had the most difficulties with after they were 90% sure that I really did have AS. I was also assessed afterwards using the DSM-IV criteria which confirmed the diagnosis. You can't tell whether or not someone has an ASD simply by filling out a questionnaire.

I agree that you should get a second opinion because this person who is diagnosing your daughter doesn't sound like they know what they're doing.

What was the name of the personality test?

Why would an autistic person not be able to complete a personality test? That seems really odd to me! I know some people on here have mentioned problems like not knowing enough about themselves to answer some questions, or being confused by vague wording; but these problems are nowhere near universal.

Histrionic traits also don't rule out autism. It just means that she likes to be the center of attention, which is less common among autistics but certainly not impossible!

One possibility (and one that would really make me shake my head in exasperation) is that this doctor assumes that autistic people do not have enough language to take a written test. Has said doctor studied autism since Asperger's was defined? One hopes that he has at least been exposed to the idea of autism in people who can use language and do not have severe adaptive skills deficits. If not, you need to switch doctors.