Could you help me determine if I am autistic?

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A recent study (Hesselmark et al., 2015) ( http://static-content.springer.com/look ... -7/000.png ) suggests otherwise when it states that "...previous research [including the AQ] supports the use of self-reports in ASD...." Its abstract states that "[i]n conclusion, the present results support the use of self-reported measures when assessing adults with ASD."

So, while not conclusive in their own right, self-reported screening tests do have a place within the evidence that determines a full diagnosis. At the least, sharing the answers and results of screening tests with a diagnostician should help the diagnostician make a more complete diagnosis.

Frequently, when a person says he/she is autistic, he/she is autistic.

People don't generally jump on the "autistic bandwagon."

It's not a glamorous condition. It just is.

It isn't glamorous? Pfft! I am outta here!

I don't know about that. My mum seems to think it's a joke, when my symptoms were being pointed out she was just laughing and saying "I'm like that too" and "I also thought that, maybe I'm Asperger's". She thinks hypersensitivity to sound is "not being able to concentrate when people are loud". Well no s**t, nobody can work as well in a loud workplace, it lowers your concentration. There are people at her work (science, no surprise) with high functioning Asperger's and she thinks that's what it is: being a nerd. Really distorted view on it. But she's not alone, with all these "lol Einstein is aspie it makes you genius" (but of course that's just speculation, they neglect to mention) things more people probably share her view. They're missing the second part of the name: syndrome, or disorder. Even on this site that view is prevalent. People believe autism makes you better than NTs. People say it's not a disorder. These are more often than not self-diagnosed people who actually fit the BAP description better. Sure they have traits, but they aren't severe or prevalent enough to create a disorder, so of course they don't think they have a disorder; they actually don't.

I think people can take steps to make it less of a "disorder."

True, but some people claim it's not a disorder in the first place and that treating it and helping people with it function is wrong.

I believe it is a disorder--sometimes.

I also believe having autism/Asperger's sometimes has its advantages.

In order to prevent this thread going downhill I've removed last two posts.

It can be. Like Temple Grandin, it helped her understand cows better and then make farming so much more humane. I don't personally eat meat but I still respect her work so much.

Special interests and savants can lead to very, very talented people. People who become experts in their field and love their job.

But at the other end there's severe autism, and most never communicate or do much really - it's a severe disorder. Carly Fleischmann is unique as far as I know for being severe and yet being able to type. I don't think severe autism has advantages, she's unique in that.

And while the autistic mind has advantages, there are obviously disadvantages - it's a disorder and diagnosed based on those. If paired with being smart then it can be a very good combination, if they manage to find a way to apply their brains. But autism has a lot of comorbids and a hell of a bad time at school because of it.