Aspergers tests - how reliable are they?

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Hi

I'm 60 years old and have always suspected that I have a mild autism problem. I first became aware of it when I was about 10. I have never done anything about it, but it has always been something I have been aware of, and it has caused me some considerable difficulties at specific times. I'm basically happy with 'me', but recently went to my doctor to see if I could get a formal diagnosis, and perhaps some possible assistance in coping with the problem. No joy there of course, as NHS resources are pretty scarce - even kids don't get much resources where I live (according to the doctor I saw). I have done the self-assessment test at the RDOS site and my score came out at 168/200 for Aspie and 39/200 for neurotypical (I love that word! ) But how accurate do you think these tests are? Would I get a different result if I had a formal testing under the health service professionals?

I can't post my test graph because I have just joined this site, and it wont let me post a link

As much as experts like to say online tests like this are unreliable, when I tried for a formal assessment I found the experts didn't know much more than the information contained in that test. I would say based on what you have said that at your age if you think you are an Aspie you most likely are.

I recall that the AQ test by Baron-Cohen was reported as 80% accurate in picking up a diagnosable person from those who score above the threshold (26 IIRC. Generally those who scored over high 30-something were more likely to have it too).

So, that'd be the one I'd take to see if I had autistic-like behavior in the least.

O, and those who weren't found to have it (they were referred to a clinic IIRC for their behavior, just as those who were found to have it), had something else or weren't really impaired by their behavior.

I also took the Baron-Cohen test, and scored 45. I suppose one of the problems with these tests is thay can be self-fulfilling "I think I might be Aspie, therefore I need to tick all those boxes on the right...". Still, that must be the same for official assessment with professionals - I presume part of the testing is questionnaires - either written or spoken?

Mostly interviews (they prefer to see how you actually behave in addition to hearing your history; contrary to popular belief, it's fairly easy to see the physical manifestation of the symptoms of ASDs when you have some experience with it), though it depends on the clinic/professional. Some throw in tests in addition to the interviews.

Perhaps getting someone you know to take the test for you may provide something you can compare your answers to. What they think you think due to how they see you behave, for example. It's probably also good to take the test a few times over a period of time (it didn't really change in my single experience though).

I think you can probably be fairly objective about it.

The RDOS test is developed by an independant non-medical person for their own research and theories. However it does roughly match up with the AQ Test. Only ever mention the AQ test to a medical person because the RDOS test would mean nothing to them.

I am not sure other peoples 'perceptions' of how you behave or who are you are accurate. After all it is only their perception and often when someone perceives your behaviour what they are really doing is perceiving their own 'feelings' about your behaviour rather than perceiving things as they really are instead.

I just used this example in another thread but it works here so i shall use it again. Let us say I am going to take a driving test and I say to a friend "I may fail". Given that most people perceive failure as something negative to be feared they will immediately interpret me or perceive me as being well...negative.

In reality I see failure as merely being one possible outcome to a particular sequence of events and am not afraid of it at all. I am more likely, after a brief moment of disappointment because I did not achieve my preferred result, going to find myself curious as to how and why I failed and what can be done (if anything) to correct it. I will basically analyse and try again. Nothing to be afraid of...its a learning experience and that is what life is...one big giant fascinating learning curve with lots of exciting things to explore.....

Learning can be exhilarating.

Now as I said, to my friends mind I am being negative, but to me I am merely stating a possibility. I could indeed fail as there is no guarantee that I will pass and vice versa.

So you see how perceptions can differ...and very often when we perceive things, including other peoples behaviour, we do so through our own personal lens. This can confuse things and how one perceives someones behaviour another may not.

Tests are also not all that reliable but for many other different reasons.

There is presently no 100% reliable way of ascertaining if you have an ASD.

Personally I suspect I have one, the online test say I do, but there is also a part of me that feels I do not I think because outside of my social difficulties I have non of the learning disabilities usually associated with ASDs. In fact I have always been able to learn well (again I stipulate outside of the social stuff) as long as I am interested enough in the subject matter to do so (this may be the problem with most socialising...I find it horrendously boring because I am not into gossips and chit chat...I'd rather talk science or theory...much more entertaining!! !! I also like learning and like people who can help me develop my lines of thinking but sadly this can be hard to find so I often spend most of my time by myself. Also as a woman there are too many expectations for me to cripple myself wearing high heels and plaster yacky uncomfortable make-up on my face not to mention the fact I am supposed to put the science books down and go bake cakes or some shite...).

Anyway, (ending my digression there about socialising) the online tests say I have it (my scored is between 34 and 38 for the AQ test for example) but my official diagnosis is social anxiety and depression even though I often don't have many of the symptoms of depression such as low self esteem, feeling of guilt and loss of interest in my hobbies (I do have sleep problems...insomnia alternating with hypersomnia (excessive daytime sleepiness and inability to stay awake) and a funny circadian rhythm as Im a bit nocturnal most of the time). I have not been tested by drs for an ASD. I do know I had asynchronous development (advanced development in many areas including moral development, intellectual ability, memory etc but with a tendency to be emotionally immature, too idealistic and oversensitive) as I was tested as a child back in the early 80s due to my problems having always been there (although in those days it was my same age peers I had problems mixing with but I was fine with people many years my senior).

As to who is right..the tests or the drs I don't know and I am going past caring.

I have issues with the psych profession labeling anything that does not fit into its narrowly defined boxes as abnormal anyway. Plus they over medicate people. I used to want to be a psychiatrist...I changed my mind after years of experience with the psych profession and their rubbish.

Pn not all psychology is rubbish, just much of the stuff touted by the psychiatric profession and the latest DSM is getting ridiculous!! !! ! Soon a person will not be able to fart without being mentally ill.

PPS please excuse any typos or dubious grammar, I have a hangover. I corrected some of them but I need a coffee (decaf as caffeine gives me a headache).

They're not reliable, at all.

I think they're good for seeing if it's worth the resources necessary to get a test done in-person.

I understand them to be useful mostly for ruling people out of diagnosis rather than confirming suspicions. For example, someone could have hypochondria and latch onto the idea of having AS but tests such as the AQ would be able to tell that person and their doctors that AS was not the answer so months of expensive and stressful diagnosis could be avoided.

Having said that, I seem to score well into the autistic range for these tests and it helps solidify my belief that I have AS brought about through months of solid research and self-analysis. Maybe take them into account but don't rely on these tests alone for an answer as they will score positive for quite a few people without ASDs from what I understand.

With the AQ test, I recall reading that it found 4 people per 100 had autistic behavior when using the general population, whereas the "real" rate is about 1 in 100 for people who actually have autism. They concluded that it's poor to use as a general test for this reason.

So, only 1 in that 4 actually have an ASD when it's administered to the general population and who score over the threshold (25% accurate), whereas it's around 80% accurate when used on people who're referred to psychiatric care.

I'd say most people who take the AQ test for personal reasons would come under the former (well, of course).

Not at all, IMO. Anyone can pass that test. I like museams, I have a big imagination, and I can picture people in vivid detail, does that make me Autistic? APPARENTLY! They should just humor us with tests. I'm serious, Patch Adams anyone?

The Spectacular Autism Spectrum Test:

"Why was that guy crossing the same road over and over again? Inconvenient rehearsal spot. Said avoiding moving cars helped him concentrate. I mean, he said he was an actor..."

"Great! What movie was he rehearsing for?"
"One where he didn't get hit by a speeding car." (he was autistic)

Why did that “skitzo” cross the road? Same reason as everyone else would when being chased, except we don't know how he crossed sideways.

What happened to the girl who prank called the FBI? Let's just hope they never returned the knock knock joke....

Why did the girl with the broken leg go to the airport instead of a hospital. I mean who wouldn't want a free X-Ray?

What did the schizophrenic say to psychiatrist after he was cured.
We are all one, doc. Look within. Poor psychiatrist had to commit himself.

What did the bipolar guy say on the way down?
I am so goddamn happy it's sick.

What did the depressed woman say to her coworkers?
Come on! I've birthed six babies already, you lazy mums!

(hahaha, get the parallels guys get the parallels?)

Why did George W. Bush have such a vendeta against terrorists? IDK, they ruined his life by telling him too many knock knock jokes. I mean, with a last name like that?

"AAAAAH! Stop torturing me!! ! Alright Alright!! I'll tell you the TRUTH!!" said the guy being tortured, long pause...."I'm just gay! I didn't blow anyone..." famous last words.

On a one to ten scale, rate autism in america:

I am sure that such subjective judgments are often flawed or outright wrong. When dealing with the professionals who diagnosed me on the spectrum, however, they listed a series of traits that I wasn't even fully aware I had, and were consistent with descriptions of how autistic people tend to behave/move/look.



I've had this kind of experience more often than I can count. I am tired of people who think I should be positive for the sake of being positive at the expense of being honest and accurate.

Interesting points there, Si. And it's why I started this thread. True ASD people should normally score accurately on tests. Those who are wholly NT or with some slight ASD tendencies could score incorrectly higher than they should. Why is that? I think it's because some of the test questions are designed to tease out ASD traits and get you to identify with them and tick the appropriate box. But what if you are NT and you still want to tick that box? For example, a lot of the questions relate to wanting to do things (or not) with other people - small-talk for example. But I don't like small-talk because I'm quite intelligent and well-educated and I just find small-talk boring, so I avoid it. By doing so I have to sometimes avoid certain people, and that might reflect more ASD tendencies when I take a test.

Yes?

The aq is a bap personality test, not an ASD test. It is also written to conform to sbc ES theory. It's good for screening, not diagnosis. For diagnosis, observation of behavior and childhood history are key.

I think they do a good job identifying autistic type traits. I don't think they address the issue of how do those traits impair you.