Sanctus wrote:
I often read that one of the main factors of Asperger's is that you can't "decode" emotions or don't know what others are feeling.
This is not true for me.
I did the online test where you have to match feelings to eyes, and the result was 39 (which I think isn't bad). In everyday life, I even almost have a "sixth sense" telling me who feels how and thinks what. I'm really good at finding out who likes me and who doesn't.
That being said, almost all the other symptoms are there though. I don't like to look into people's eyes, don't like to show my emotions and lack empathy and general emotions.
Is this possible? I mean, I think it's a pretty important part of Aspergers.. do any of you have the same exception?
Some people with ASD score really well on the Mind in the Eyes test. It's not a good screening instrument. It's hard to tell if it's a problem with the underlying theory or just a poorly developed test. I scored a 22 on that test, which is right at the bottom of the normal range. It takes me a long time to complete, so this shows it's intellect, not instinct that gets me the result.
In real-life people don't have words describing possible emotions floating round their face and are prepared to hold it for a minute while I work it out
What you described in your first paragraph your sixth sense, sounds like pretty good empathy and mind-reading skills. Of course, one problem with people with very poor empathy is that people with poor empathy don't recognise this weakness.
It is true that not all people with AS have all features. You do have to tread very carefully if you are missing some pretty major ones though, you'll find many more differential diagnoses are applicable. Social Anxiety Disorder for instance.
Jason.