Going against the norm for aspies

Post Reply New Topic

I recently took an iq test, here are my results:
Catell verbal test: 92nd percentile
Catell culture fair: 99th percentile
I was diagnosed with aspergers at the age of 13 (Im 18 now), and there is a significant disparity between my verbal iq score and my performance iq score, skewed towards the performance iq score. Ive read that people with aspergers generally have verbal iqs significantly higher than their performance iqs, but I know there is a minority with the opposite pattern. Maybe I just fall into this minority, but on top of this, I was recently diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and the psychiatrist said I did not come across as having aspergers at all and that all my social difficulties and obsessions are better explained by the social anxiety diagnosis. The only other thing of note is that I did have a speech delay but that seems irrelevant since it was only because my bloody sister always used to talk for me and i couldnt get a word in edgewise . Could I have high functioning autism? Could I have anxiety without aspergers or vice versa or both? Arrggghh labels!! !

I know it is difficult to tell without knowing me, but i would appreciate any help

Ohh and also i pose you this question: What about you goes against the norm for people with ASDs?
Thanks!

Sorry just to clarify: my verbal iq is 122 and my performance iq is 137

That doesn't seem like a crazy discrepancy. My VIQ/PIQ is 130 verbal and like 80 nonverbal. That amounts to NVLD, though, which is a big giant argument of whether or not it's Aspergers or not. Your case would be more along the lines of the classical visual spatial thinking Aspergers. Where the typical like, LFA savant type behavior comes from is more something along the lines of my IQ split reversed, like VIQ of 80, then PIQ of 130. In these cases, what happens is your brain compensates by using the part it's strongest in to do most thinking, so for me, I'm able to write quite well and verbally explain things well, but then visual spatial things like math I fall flat on my face with, as the brain is attempting to "emulate" math verbally and can't. In your case, your IQ split is fairly mild. I know for diagnosing NVLD, diagnostic criteria is 15 point IQ gap, which you have, but it's not a 50 point gap like I have.

Generally people with a higher PIQ than VIQ get through life easier, as people tend to judge you by your verbal ability. So with my NVLD, people are like "BUT YOU'RE SO SMART" and then think you're a genius, able to do anything, etc. Whereas a high PIQ is the opposite, in that people will think you're dumber, but you can surprise them with how smart you are. That and it's more helpful for say, engineering or something. The only fields NVLD is good at are possibly teaching (if you can get over your social problems) or writing.

Oh, as far as what goes against the norm for me. Probably extrovertedness or outgoingness. I'm probably not truly "extroverted" in character, but I'm usually always fairly outgoing, and was especially so as a kid (my mom always kept complaining about how I'd talk to strangers and like ask them about Star Trek.) However, I'm outgoing but still socially awkward, so it doesn't really work well. As a matter of fact, I wish I was shy so I could be less of an idiot. I go through periods of shyness where I don't talk to people much, after I realize I look like an idiot/awkward/etc, then eventually the periods go away, then I'm back to outgoing but weird self, then the cycle repeats.

Let's see, other things. I've been told I'm good looking. I also like athletic activities, though I'm not very good at them per the amount of time I put into practicing them. The NVLD has an impact on the athletic activities, as far as reflexes and balance and all that goes, but I feel athletic activities are the best treatment for my NVLD ever, 1000% better than talking to someone about feelings I can't express verbally anyway. The athletic activities force me to work on the parts of my brain that don't work as well, and it ends up being an exercise for the brain. I like really technical complex sports. My favorite sports are figure skating and Olympic style weightlifting, and I wish to one day be proficient in both.

I do well at tabling for political events (such as peace activism) which is topic-oriented conversation and not just small talk.

My social skills tend to be patchy, above average in some areas and below average in others.

I have the PIQ>VIQ split; almost the exact VIQ and PIQ scores you got. I also have a visual spatial deficit (absolutely no ability to visualize anything in my minds eye). When I had an IQ test done as part of my AS assessment, I was positive the results would be VIQ>PIQ, but it turned out that I did very well in the PIQ sub-tests. I think the important thing to keep in mind is that abnormal neurology usually doesn't fit a nice easy pattern. When combined with all the other stuff that contributes to who you are, it's really a complicated mess to sort out.

I'll try to answer your question with a question:

Can your progression in social function be explained by just having more experiences to establish social rules from (via an analytically process / trial and error), or do you feel it was more intuitive? If you are gifted in solving complex problems (suggested by your PIQ), and you spend tons of time mulling over past experiences, then increased social functioning could just be the result of using a mental strength to compensate for a weakness.

How well do you fair in novel situations. Are you more Aspie when confronted with a new social puzzle?

Socialising doesnt come naturally to me but I did go through a period of trying too hard to be popular with some success at the expense of my mental well being. Whenever I am faced with a new social situation, my primary reaction is anxiety and total avoidance of the situation. Even in familiar social situations this is true; Ive avoided school for years.
Ive always thought of myself as more of a verbal person, could the intense anxiety I experienced during the test have affected my score? I remember my heart pounding until I felt as if I was going to explode before the time limit ended! Obviously I dont work well under pressure...

I'm sure anxiety will impact the test, but I don't know if it would effect the PIQ/VIQ difference. I wouldn't worry too much about the PIQ/VIQ thing. The PIQ/VIQ difference just shows that your information processing isn't even across all areas. I think examining your social skills would be a better time investment.

How good are you are reading non-verbal queues, in the moment, while the social event is unfolding? Are you able to express non-verbal communication to others?

Im quite good at reading non-verbal cues, I can tell when someone is bored ,for instance, by their body language and their gaze. I can also read emotions in the eyes and body. My eye contact is not too good because I get extremely anxious when looking directly at someone. Is this typical for all aspies or is this another social anxiety symptom?

It can be a social anxiety symptom.