AQ score below 26

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So are there any diagnosed aspies who score below the supposed cut-off for aspergers? Then what are the main issues you have? I'm asking because I score 13 and I still suspect myself of having it. Mainly because I am totally clueless in groups, but then again, maybe this could be put down to social anxiety kicking in.

13 is pretty low but some of the questions on that test are kind of weird. I found that as an Autistic person, it is actually easy to answer some of them in several ways which would affect the results. For example, the question that asks if you would rather go to a museum or to the theater. Well, for me it all depends on the subject matter. I love plays and movies if I am interested in the subject matter. I love museums if I am interested in the subject matter. If it is a subject matter that I am not interested in, then I don't want to go to either one. Of course, if I have to choose strictly from a sensory perspective, a museum will have less possibility for sensory overload so if that is what the choices are really trying to ask, than museum would be the answer for me. Movies can often be too loud for me so I don't go to the movie theater unless it is something I really want to see there. I average about a movie at the movie theater maybe once a year if even that often. But I could answer that question either way. And the questions about imagination are just wrong. Plenty of Autistic people have great imaginations so those are not fair questions. So with questions like that, the test can have an inaccurate result.

There is a sticky that has a bunch of tests on it. Try to take as many as you can and see what happens. Also remember that Autism is not just feeling socially awkward, there is a lot more involved in it. And, as you already know, there are other conditions that have similar symptoms. If I were you I would take as many of those online quizzes as you can find. That is what I did and then if you feel the need to look into it further I would seek a professional opinion. But you can't diagnose just from the one test. The online tests are not designed for diagnostic purposes. They are meant to give people a starting point to see if they should consider a diagnosis.

Last edited by skibum on 31 May 2016, 4:49 am, edited 2 times in total.

I also scored on the RITVO test just above the cut-off, but still WAY below the average asperger.

Perhaps autism isn't your issue

You could definitely have some traits that are common and even required in Autism but not be Autistic. Keep looking into it and see what you find.

The test is a tool. Ruling out or getting an ASD diagnosis should involve a lot more then a test. The tests are usually self report so the results are subject to personal biases, a person bieng wrong about themselves and so on.

You could look up the BAP- broader autism phenotype. This is when you are a neurotypical person with some definite autism traits. BAP people often have siblings who are autistic.

I generally feel that if you are CLOSE to an autism diagnosis score on one of those tests OR have been diagnosed as being on the spectrum AND if you are well-read on the subject of autism and think that it fits for you, you are autistic.

It's like if you are transgender. If you act like a particular gender, look like a particular gender, feel like that gender, etc, but are chromosomally a different gender- what's wrong here? You probably shouldn't get hung up on the one thing out of place and focus on what makes sense for you.

I scored above the cut-off on pragmatic language, but I also scored very high on cognitive disorganization on the schizotypy test. https://www.okcupid.com/tests/olife-schizophrenia-test

Do you think you could get in with a psychiatrist who could official diagnose you? Then you could see if you had one versus the other, or both? Or something else?

My psychiatrist told me i don't have aspergers becaues aspies don't communicate non-verbally, as in they have a stiff face, while I do. Is this theory valid according to you?

I think genuine autistic people can learn to communicate non-verbally, but they're probably not going to be "natives" in it. It takes them a while to learn, and it might break down under stress, as verbal communication does in some who can normally speak (selective mutism).

Although intimates of mine have often wondered about whether I have Asperger's, after reading a lot about it from autistic adults (and always coming up NT on the popular Aspie Quiz), I'm sure I don't. I recommend reading works by autistic authors, such as Temple Grandin or John Elder Robison, as well as other blogs and websites by autistic adults. Autistics.org and the Autism Hub (if it's still around) seemed pretty informative. The latter also had neurotypical parents of autistic people, but they were neurodiversity allies: willing to accept that their children's autism could not be cured by any currently-known means and helped to make their children who they are. This place has some interesting stuff too, and I found some other useful autism blogs written by members of this forum. The questions on the Aspie Quiz are also written by a member of this forum and can be considered a sort of description of autism from the inside.

I also recommend the book "You are Not So Smart" and some Skeptic works like "Don't Believe Everything You Think" to describe common neurotypical thinking and perception and its (little-known and little-appreciated) weaknesses. Confirmation bias, self-serving bias, and negativity bias are all useful things to look out for when trying to figure yourself out neurologically.

No. My face is very expressive and I am definitely an Aspie. And I know other Aspies in real life and none of them have stiff faces. They are all very expressive in their facial expressions. Sometimes these "doctors" don't have a clue and are stuck back in the archaic teachings and myths and stereotypes of the 18th century. It is absolutely ridiculous. If I were being paid that much I would expect to be held accountable to keeping up with the findings and information about my craft. Anyway, you need to find another diagnostician, one who is current on what Autism really is.

That test is a bit odd. If you look at the averages, even the average NT scores are above the cutoff for possible ASD. I've taken it a couple times and scored in the 160s.

That psychiatrist is a moron. You should get another one. That's absolutely not true and laughably ridiculous. It's like saying that cats don't have fur.

There's only one real answer: see a psychologist.

If you can't afford it or its out of the question there is ONE other thing you can do.

Research into things that resemble autism because it seems as though you may not have autism, but there are many many many many many MANY things that can resemble autism.

Nonverbal learning disability
Social communication disorder
Auditory processing disorder
Schizophrenia
ADHD
Borderline personality disorder
Bipolar disorder
Schizoid personality disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder

This is just a handful of things that share symptoms with autism.

But if you are REALLY having difficulties in life and finding functioning a struggle, see a psychologist.

i got curious and took this test and i got 45, probably a sign....as the threshold is 32 +.


to be honest 13 is a very ridiculously low score, im sort of agreeing with others in saying maybe autism isn't the answer but im not an expert so id see a psychologist about it