Psychometrics, the Autism spectrum, and the Internet

Post Reply New Topic

Keep in mind though that clinical diagnostic tools--even if they consist of so-called objective scales--will be administered by a human being. While professional input can be comforting and even in some cases useful, one doctor's idea of Asperger's is another doctor's idea of HFA and yet another doctor might regard the same person as BAP or even NT. They're all seeing through their own lens and this impacts their clinical practice. I would guess that even when genetic tests can determine one's predisposition for AS, there will still be no reliable method of objective diagnosis.

Interestingly enough, when I recently went to get my diagnosis from a highly-respected autism center, they started out with an intake interview, followed by exact replicas of the online AS tests! I'm sure this was a fast-forward way to get to know me, and take inventory of my symptoms, but it still took me aback. Of course it was followed by extensive interviewing, other tests, etc....

Thats why I select "I do not know if I have aspergers" in my profile.
Seems if you were consistent you would have listed the same.

Then whats the point of the "undiagnosed" option?

The entire premise of your posts is to discredit unofficial diagnostics. A person who accepts that unofficial self-diagnoses
is accurate enough labels them self "Aspergers Undiagnosed". A
person who does not have an official diagnoses but suspects it would label them self "unsure". Basically your trying to say your personally better able to evaluate yourself than other members here can do for themselves. Which your very premise says is unwise.

I'm not discrediting unofficial diagnostics, Im discrediting online tests. I have stimmed my entire life, am unable to read emotion in peoples eyes, and have had very intense obsessions, so Im pretty confident that I am an aspie:

(ive had more sessions with the doctor since this thread and he now sees where I am coming from)

http://www.wrongplanet.net/modules.php? ... highlight=

What I am concerned about is anyone who thinks that because they lack social skills and have a few (perceived) intense interests suddenly thinking that they are an aspie, going online and take a test and diagnose themselves with no professional input. That leads to more (often incorrect) stereotyping of what AS is and articles like this:

http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/as ... php?page=1

Im not trying to steal the thunder of Aspies who perhaps used tests to get the ball rolling and improve their life or get an official dx, Im trying to let people know that they have got to do other things before applying a label to themselves and spreading the word on what they think AS is.

I agree with you on that 100%. I was given an initial false impression of the nature aspergers by the large number of person here who have comorbid(or the real primary diagnosis of) personality disorders such as borderline personality , narcissistic personality, etc.

This why I am paranoid about flat out saying I have AS... without knowing for sure... I might just be causing more problems than I help.

Despite being 95% positive I have it... I can't push myself over the edge to say I have it for sure.