How to empirically prove whether or not you have autism

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SkipNip
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13 Oct 2011, 3:52 pm

Despite plenty of evidence, despite being officially diagnosed, despite having every psychologist I've ever gone to ask me if I've "been assessed for aspergers", I still have doubts that I have HFA. I lived most of my life not knowing there was even such a thing as HFA/aspergers and getting diagnosed lifted a HUGE weight off my shoulders. I could suddenly be myself and had a legitimate excuse to be the way I was. My self esteem never recovered and I still can't accept that I have autism. I came across this:
http://www.jneurosci.org/content/30/32/10612.abstract
according to that, this test is 80%-90% specific. That sounds to me like a solid, empirical test. I wanna take this test so I can put this doubt to rest. I theoretically know my result will be the same as all the other autistic people tested with this method but the doubts I have are subconscious doubts resulting from years of negative social programming. Some solid empirical evidence should at least contributing towards overriding these subconscious doubts. Have any of you looked into getting this test done on yourself?



MrXxx
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13 Oct 2011, 4:05 pm

No need, for me. I've done enough research on what it is, what it isn't, and myself, along with allowing others to do the same on me.

I've taken enough tests, all of them just as reliable as any other, with full understanding of what the results mean.

I have no doubts whatsoever. I have Asperger Syndrome.

If I did still have doubts though, I would still be looking for answers and would take that test.

Since I no longer do have doubts, it isn't necessary to keep looking for answers I already have. It is however, time to move on and figure out what the heck to do about it. That is a much harder question to answer.


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13 Oct 2011, 4:06 pm

Is that the same test as discussed in this article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10929032



ictus75
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13 Oct 2011, 7:02 pm

SkipNip wrote:
getting diagnosed lifted a HUGE weight off my shoulders. I could suddenly be myself and had a legitimate excuse to be the way I was. My self esteem never recovered and I still can't accept that I have autism.


Would it be any different if you had a broken arm, cancer, polio, were deaf, etc?

It's no big deal. Everyone has something. The important thing for you is to read your own words: "getting diagnosed lifted a HUGE weight off my shoulders." OK, now you know what's going and and can work with it. I don't like the idea that I am autistic either, but I can't change that. What I can change is how I deal with the world around me now that I know why I behave the way I do. Yes, it was a big weight off for me too. I used to try to change things that I now know can't be changed—what a relief! So I'm working to maximize my positive aspects and to find ways to work with my quirks. It's a lot better than the ignorance of things before.

You are OK. Just stay positive and enjoy your "new" life.



SkipNip
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14 Oct 2011, 5:57 pm

ictus75 wrote:
I don't like the idea that I am autistic either, but I can't change that. What I can change is how I deal with the world around me now that I know why I behave the way I do.

I do like it. I love it. I like to be alone and learn science related stuff. Other people being around me interferes with what I like to do so I've made sure that friends never get too close to me. I have some friends at college but thats it, I have no friends outside college therefore I can be alone in my free time. Before I got diagnosed I felt like there was pressure on me to be more social, I felt like I had to socialize cuz thats what normal people do. I hate socializing but I used to force myself to do it cuz I wanted to get up to par with everyone else. After being diagnosed I no longer bother with that BS, I just do the things I actually like to do which is learn scientific things and apply them. Being diagnosed with autism I no longer feel weird being myself. Being diagnosed is truly the best thing that has ever happened to me. Like yourself, I know now that the things I was trying to change my whole life, can't be changed. In retrospect, it was other people that made me feel pressure to make these impossible changes. They'd make it out like my traits were a sign there was something wrong with me. I was an idiot to allow my perspective be controlled by popular belief. Back when Copernicus was around the vast majority of people believed the sun revolved around the earth, if he let his beliefs be swayed that easily, he wouldn't have gotten very far with his theory on heliocentricism.