Do I have Asperger's? I don't know... Help!

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Hello all. I'm new here, as of this afternoon. After a conversation I had with my partner over the weekend (who knew more about AS than me and thought I might have it) I decided to look up AS online, and the more I read, the more it sounded like me, and explained a lot of my weirdnesses. My problem is, am I just finding similarities, or do I really have AS? I'm not good at figuring out which questions to even ask myself to figure out yes or no.

So, I guess I'm asking all you aspies for help! Am I one of you? How can I tell?

Take this online test http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

First of all,what characteristics and mannerisms do you have that makes you think you have AS?

Also,a few more questions:

1. Did you have any physical speaking problems such as stuttering as a child(or do you still)?

2. Do you have ONLY a few interests that you're obsessed about?

3. Why do you "stim"? That means do you do things,say,when you're angry or sad or anxious that makes you feel good? For exzample: flapping your hands,rocking back and forth,waving ribbons or other wavy objects around.


-SpaceCase

Well, first off, none of us are exactly the same. For instance, many of the members here are the INTJ personality type while I'm ESFJ. Second, AS varies greatly. It can go from someone who's a social butterfly (it's rare, but true) to someone who won't talk to anyone. So how about asking yourself these questions to help you determine a bit:

1. Do you not like big social gatherings?
2. Are you sensitive to light and sound?
3. Do you tend to obsess over something you enjoy?
4. Do you have trouble making small talk?
5. Do you have a normal or above normal IQ?

I hope this helps!

Weirdness?Us?You must be confused,this is a very normal bunch of folks......

Welcome,take the test read some forums and see if you relate.Are you having particular problems with some of the "traits"?

Hi Sarah,
I am also here as well there are other members in WP with the same situation comming here because of feeling a lot related to AS

You might point out here things if you like of what things you feel it makes you different than anyone else, like stimming or tics, socializing, communication, how is your understanding to people, motor skills, obsession with a thing that makes you ignore anyhthing else.

The link mentioned by Machine1 is a nice one to take to see the results as well there is this another smaller test http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testi ... 0153908026

I also have a question, are the online tests a really good base to call oneself an undiagnosed aspie?

I actually found another assessment thing which can give you your AQ and EQ,

http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/tests/aaa_test.asp

You will want the excel file titled "Adult Asperger Assessment (AAA)" and the reference paper at the bottom as it has all of the questions in the appendices. Obviously, it not substitue for a real dx if you want one - just gives you an idea if you might.

For Clarification, the idea of social gatherings is just that you don't see the point and/or are VERY uncomfortable or feel out of place around them.

The sensitivity to light/sound is ODD! For sound, it could be that a sound nobody else even hears causes you pain. For light, maybe you see flickering nobody else does.

The obsessions can almost take over, and you may even forget to eat.

The small talk is much like the social gatherings, but you MAY talk at length about your obsessive interests.

The normal or above IQ is just part of the diagnosis.

BTW AS people ALSO often hit milestones when they shouldn't be hit. I think most generally hit most earlier.

Steve

You can take the Aspie Quiz:

http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

Okay, this is all starting to make sense. (The next time I see my psychiatrist I'll mention that I'd like to get an official diagnosis.) Let me lay out some of the things I have come across that make me think I have AS, and get some feedback.

I. I took the "Aspie Quiz." I scored 164/200 Aspie, 26/200 NT. The breakdown looked like this:

Motor difficulties: 8.0 (Above average)
Perception differences: 8.1 (Above average)
Aspie talent: 9.1 (Above average)
Aspie disability: 5.0 (Average)
Social differences: 9.5 (Above average)
Neurotypical social traits: 0.4 (Below average)
Stims: 7.4 (Above average)
Communication difficulties: 8.9 (Above average)
Secondary, environmental problems: 8.8 (Above average)
Obsessions: 9.3 (Above average)

II.

In reply: 1. I never stuttered, or had any diagnosed speech problems, but I frequently (much more often than typical) "lose" words; that is, when I'm speaking, I can't come up with the word I want to use. Mostly this is nouns. Whenever this happens, I find myself "signing" what I'm looking for; if I am trying to think of the word "house", for instance, I draw a box shape in the air and top it with a triangle, and repeat until I or someone else I'm talking to fills in the words. This happens all the time. My partner knows some of my signs, it happens so frequently.

2. Absolutely. If you know a Christmas carol, I know more verses than you do. Try me. I also have more different Robin Hood books than a library. And I love weird coincidences in history, science, and current world events, anything that seems out of place, ahead of its time, or connects things together... I'm not quite sure how to explain this one, but my friends can tell you all about it. It drove my coworkers at my last job nuts, because I liked listening to NPR, and every time something like that came up (several times a day) I would tell them all about it... even if they heard it themselves...

3. My family and friends always described me as fidgety, and my mom was always chiding me as a child for not being able to keep my hands away from my face when I was in a school performance in choir or orchestra (I pull on my lips or pick at my face when I'm nervous). I also chew on the inside of my mouth almost constantly... maybe when I'm thinking? When I worry I chew at the skin around my fingernails, and bite the fingernails off too. I've got all sorts of other stim behaviors too, but I don't know why I do them, I just do. I never paid much attention to the fact that they might attach to certain emotions.

III.

To answer these:
1. I hate big social gatherings. I never know what to do with myself. There doesn't seem to be anything to do! So, they're boring; and they're stressful, because everyone else seems to have something to do, so I feel out of place.
2. Yes. (You mean not everyone can see fluorescent lights flickering? I honestly thought everyone could.) My mom and I used to go birdwatching when I was a kid, and although I don't remember bird calls very well (it's her hobby, not mine) I always heard them farther off than she did. And saw them moving sooner, too.
3. Answered above. And yes. I love playing video games on my PC, and I can do so for hours without noticing the passing of time. My roommate my freshman year in college was amazed that I could spend the entirety of a Saturday in front of the computer, from the time I got up until I went to bed, only leaving when she dragged me out to the dining hall for meals. And I do mean dragged.
4. What's the point? I hate small talk. (Of course, if you want to know about what I heard on NPR today...)
5. My IQ is somewhere between 130 and 145. Well above average.

It sounds like you are anywhere to mild to fairly moderate AS. Do you see a doctor? Have you been diagnosed with anything?


-SpaceCase

I am seeing a psychiatrist, although in light of this I might try to move my appointment up. I've only been diagnosed with depression, and panic disorder.

Oh,okay.

Well,ask him about Asperger's next time you see him/her.


-SpaceCase

Dont be surprised if your psyc says...you couldnt have AS,your to......(fill in the blank),many are still clueless,inspite of the fact that it has been in the manuel since 1994(My own GP,said I couldnt have it because I could SPEAK..I switched GP)Of course we speak,even if know one wants to hear what we say,get confussed by what we are trying to say or we forget words....I do this all the time,especially names of things/people/books/movies,etc.

If possibe go to smoeone who specializes in Adult AS and is familiar with females,we show some traits a little differently then males.We obviously cant DX anyone,but you sound AS to me.I also have panic attacks and depression,very common co-morbids with AS and some times sensory or social related.My own panic attacks are about driving(sensory overload,difficulty with measuring distance)The "treatment behind these "issues" are different for someone who has AS then someone who has a Nurosis....I am not going to be "cured" by talking about it or remembering supressed memories of car accidents that may have "traumitized" me.....I dont think many therepys for NTs are effective for AS because they are based on a different "primis"
My issues are not psychological as much as sensory and some can not be "over come" but I can change my life around in some ways to compinsate so that I can still function......I just avoid jobs where I have to drive on the highways or drive as part of the job.....hope that makes sense.

Good luck with getting a DX,it isnt easy finding someone.You can check the web for your local AS support group(sometimes can find them in Yahoo groups.They helped me find a specialist.

BTW Sarahr,

The stuttering really isn't a requirement for AS. Only a few(as or not) stutter, and most of them are male anyway.

You sound like you may have AS.

Steve