Should I get tested?

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When I stumbled across a description of Asperger's several years ago, I thought to myself, "Hey, that sounds like me." My older sister had spent our entire childhood trying to get me to "be polite" and "pay attention to people." I sometimes argued with her about which social rule ought to apply in a given situation. Instead of making my own friends (well, I had one), I convinced her to let me hang around hers. (Not participating, usually--I was only comfortable standing around the edges and listening, for the most part, although I would play boardgames with them.) To prevent long-winded, rambling speeches (wherein I apparently bored everyone), she developed a knack of interrupting me whenever I showed signs of launching into something lengthy. By ninth grade, she'd finally convinced me that the sweatpants and baggy t-shirts were not typical attire, and to at least wear jeans like other girls did.

My 8th grade math teacher scolded me for always reading instead of socializing--to which I replied, "Books are more interesting than real life."

I hated group work, and--although I saw myself as a calm and reasonable person, and was usually the teacher's favorite--I occasionally got into literal screaming matches with groupmates.

I have trouble making eye contact with people even today. I hate talking on the phone and am very awkward at it. I don't know if I have anything that qualifies as a repetitive motor activity, but I like to touch/rub my face and scalp a lot. (Enough that my mom points it out to me and sometimes reminds me to stop.) I don't think I have a lot of empathy--although I do feel like I have a strong sense of justice. I have more than I used to, though (I think). I have a lot of trouble knowing when people are lying to me (in fact, I don't know if I've ever detected it by tone of voice/posture/body language... I only have found out afterwards). I am told I often speak too loudly, and my language has been described as ridiculously flowery or overly-formal. I have been accused of being arrogant more than once--and twice it was by people I thought were my friends. I do not like small talk. I am kind of clumsy (my mom carried bandages just for me) and my gait once caused a coach to say to me, "Do you have one leg shorter than the other or something?" (My sister says not to bounce.)

I could go on, but you get my point: I have at least some of the symptoms of Asperger's. Should I get tested, or counseling, do you thinK? At least to find out? I once told a friend that I thought I might have Asperger's, but she disagreed and said that my behaviors/issues were too mild to qualify. I also read somewhere that children sometimes grow out of Asperger's, so maybe I'd had it and then (mostly) gotten over it? (I really must attribute all of my social training to my sister, by the way. I would most likely still be a clueless, poorly-dressed, bouncy, insensitive individual without her.)

Anyway, should I try to find out? It's not like a label really makes all that much of a difference anyway, does it? (Pretty much the only reason I even came here today was that someone on an advice forum commented that, given my question and some things I said in my profile, they thought I might have Asperger's. It renewed my interest in the disorder.) Do I sound like I could have Asperger's to you, or am I just a hypochondriac?

You don't sound like a hypochondriac at all.
You do have a few AS traits. Ok perhaps more than a few.
Go in for an evaluation. Best way is to get your GP to refer you to an ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) specialist. It helps to write your symptoms down. I did mine in a sort of essay structure.

Hi, i can relate to most of the things that you said about yourself and your life, so much as that i feel that your post could have been written by me! although i cannot possibly say whether you're on the spectrum, i would suggest you go and talk to your GP about your concerns. If that proved to be unhelpful, perhaps you should get yourself assessed by a psychiatrist specialising in Asperger/other developmental disorders. whatever's the outcome, at least you will stop questioning and doubting. that's what i did too, after reading much about Asperger (and failing to get anywhere with my GP), i went to a specialist and finally got diagnosed last week. i am still coming to terms with it all but at least i know what have now and can begin to accept both the weaknesses and the strengths of living with Asperger.

I guess it depends....a friend of mine who's also a child psychologist who does testing asked me once what was my reason for getting my daughter tested. I explained to her that I felt it would help her to have more information, it would help the school system to have a better understanding, and it would help me to be able to better educate myself. I see from being on here, from reading about aspergers...and in the process of educating myself, that I also have symptoms. But...I take meds for ADD, and those meds help me focus/organize a bit better...as well as with sensory problems and not feeling so overwhelmed. So in my own case, I'd wonder about the usefulness of being tested...since I already feel I have good support and am working towards goals keeping my challenges in mind. But I think if you feel that your symptoms are a hinderence to you moving forward, as I felt they were for my daughter, then yes...it's a good idea.

They're autistic traits; but the question of whether you need a diagnosis is different from asking whether you have autistic traits. A diagnosis is basically a tool to get help when you need it--everything from counseling to skills training to vocational or educational training and accommodations. If you need any of those things, then a diagnosis is useful. If not, it's a matter of self-knowledge and little more. It is common for people with autistic traits not to qualify for a diagnosis as adults because they have learned enough to compensate so that they are no longer impaired.

Bottom line being: If you need help, then yes, get a diagnosis. If you don't, then it's down to personal preference (and likely to result in "well, you have autistic traits, but I can't diagnose because you've adjusted to the world).

However, remember that "impairment" includes mild stuff. It includes stuff that you can do but just have to spend a lot more effort to manage. It includes stuff that is currently being compensated for by a good environment. So, you don't have to worry about whether your problems are "big enough" to warrant a diagnosis, because if you can clearly identify them as being outside the norm in either number or intensity, then you're perfectly justified.

Thank you all for your help! I've decided not to get tested--at least, not at this point in my life. I think that I've been coping well enough that there's no need (right now, anyway).

You guys are very, very supportive, by the way--I appreciate it. Thanks again!

I think that you've made the right decision for yourself.