Aspergers and above average IQ

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My IQ is pretty average. I scored an average of 89 IQ points in early December last year. I always thought of myself as a ret*d, and in order to make me feel better I ran an IQ test on the Internet, known as Mensa. They were pretty excited about my IQ, but later on I tried W.A.I.S. III and ... according to this particular test I scored an average of 89, which made me feel bad to worse. My writing skills are pretty good though, all things considered.
Nowadays, I still think of myself as a complete moron, I'm diagnosed with Asperger's but I try to hide it very often. I make myself believe I'm not autistic although all facts point at the opposite direction. And yes, I'm not that good at maths either. You know, problem solving is the main reason why people with autism score around or below average. My psychiatrist believes that people with autism deserve a higher rating, thirty points up at that. We simply can't help being handicapped, I mean, we didn't ask for it. If I for instance weren't suffering from autism, I would have had an average score of 119.
I think tests aren't reliable in cases like these. Cases like us. They were made to test subjects without handicaps. But, that's just me.

Best regards,
Lupus

What do you mean, problem solving is the main reason while people with autism score around or below average? First, most people with autism do not score " around or bellow average". While average IQ for people with ASDs or AS or something is around average, the scatter is unusual, with an unusual amount of people towards either pole and less in the middle. Second, unless you are referring to social problem solving, problem solving is not a deficit related to autism, in factautistic people tend to be better at many forms of problem solving. The reason why autistic people tend to score worse than their actual intelligience relates to difficulties with communication, which is a core part of autism. Saying that if you didn't have autism your score would be ** is just ridiculous, if you didn't have autism you wouldn't be you, your brain wouldn't be your brain, so your score could be anything. The fact is you're what you are, and there is no point in mourning over the fact that you aren't something that you aren't. That won't get you anywhere Instead, focus on your strong points. You say your writing skills are good. Instead of focusing on the fact that you aren't good at math and your IQ is technically below average (as in it's less than the mean, it's still in the average range) focus on the fact that you are good at writing. IQ is just a number, unless it's significantly farther from the average it doesn't mean much. Anyway, if your IQ was 30 points higher than it was you wouldn't be in the average range anymore, you would be in the above average range, which means you are smart, not stupid.

Hey, no reason to worry, we are all entitled to our own opinions.

You needn't worry yourself, Ganondox. I've been raised in Belgium and it is said opinions on the subject may vary from country to country. I just read you're from Brazil, so maybe this is the reason why our opinions differ so much. (And maybe it isn't.) But, you raised a good point when stating I should look at the things I can do. It's true that social problem solving is a tough issue among Aspies. Last December, I was told by my psychologist to ask questions during the test whenever I deemed it necessary. I didn't, I wanted to get the hell out of that room. I rushed, and maybe that's the reason why I lost a few points.
I should have elaborated my point of view, I know that we're very good at solving computer problems for instance. I was told by many people that problem solving is just fine, as long as it isn't related to the way we communicate. Anyway, I should have elaborated. My mistake.

Thanks, I hope we can still be friends one day!
Lupus

I have agree with this to.

Just a thought, it seems that relatively low WMI / PSI and higher VCI / PRI (POI) is a common characteristic of ASDs:

http://books.google.hu/books?id=taaLZsy ... &q&f=false
(pages 247-249)

I tested relatively good at WMI (equal to VCI), but I used three different techniques to improve my performance at digit span that are learned skills, not innate abilities. It's very likely that if I'd been tested at a much younger age I'd have scored lower relative to VCI, not having learned about those techniques yet (visualizing, grouping, simultaneous memory extension by phonetic memory).

I just want to say that there is as much variation in AS as there is in the general population. These things written about VCI>PMI and low WMI and PSI should be taken with a grain of salt. This is like saying that NTs tend to score 100 on the WAIS.

I took the WAIS-IV a few weeks ago. FSIQ was in the high-average range, nothing special. PRI, WMI and PSI were all either in or between the average or high-average ranges, VCI was superior to very superior.

Yes, I've seen data that contradicts it, Australien's scatter is one of them. Maybe I shouldn't be caught up in it, but I can't help.

Barely above average for me, around 115.

You and I have similar sentiments about this!!

I could not agree more with this statement, I am an Aspie with an average IQ as is my partner but often find that we seem to be down graded by these Aspie "elitist" types who use the high IQ thing to boost themselves and make themselves out to be better than those with average IQ's.

Selena

I totally agree with this..

To mock those with severe to profound intellectual disabilities just to make a point is disgusting and wrong!

I would to say that upon reading this thread further I have come to realise that I misjudged ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo so my apologies to Ana..

I hear you!!

Like you I am also sick to death of these stereotypes that everyone with Aspergers has to be like Einstein and everyone with ADD/ADHD is dumb, those stereotypes are totally incorrect and they need to be corrected

I am an Aspie with ADHD and I have average intelligence, I have met some really smart ADDer's and some really dumb Aspies and vice versa, in the case both Aspergers and ADD/ADHD the only thing we really have in common is our diagnostic label, in most cases AS and ADD/ADHD manifests itself different in each person and we are completely different to one another in lots of ways and that includes levels of intellectual functioning!!

Like you I also agree that IQ doesn't count for anything..

Agreed if we were all like Einstein there would be more problems. Most people dont know any thing about how he functioned out of the "lab". He had a lot of help but thats history now. I have a high I.Q. but I would give any one 20 points off it to function better and to comunicate better with the average joe. What good is a hight I.Q. number if you cant comuicate you're thoughts. The last test given by New York state when I was a teen was 155 but you look at my spelling and gramar you would not belive it.

So in other words I.Q. is worthless as a test in real life. Genius my I have to be reminded to pay bills, feed the animals, put gas in the car, ect.[/quote]

Actually, gifted children are more likely to be misdiagnosed with ADD/ADHD than anything else.

Back on topic, I think there would be a small correlation, since ASD is strongly correlated with the introverted and thinking>feeling Jungian personality types, which are both correlated with IQ more positively than their counterparts. But I strongly doubt there is anything causal, such as ASD = exaggerated cognitive behavior of highly intelligent people, like some idiotic "psychologists" who seem to think that ASPD = high intelligence because they saw a movie about a fictional character named Hannibal Lecter once.

My IQ is 167. It apparently "masked" the Asperger's according to my doctors(well, at least the Executive Function problems) when I was younger.

I don't necessarily think there a correlary between Asperger's and IQ. Which is a shame. Then again, many of my symptoms render my IQ moot in many situations.