Autistic Spectrum Disorders

[Robert Campbell]

John,

I've taken this test 3 or 4 times now, and I could easily manipulate my score upward or downward. But answering as straightforwardly as I can, I get a score of 28.

The survey shows the influence of Simon Baron Cohen's recent theory that autism exemplifies the "extreme male brain." Hence the presumption that noticing small details and having difficulty understanding other people's intentions and reactions are virtually one and the same. I have some doubts about the theory.

Robert Campbell

[BaalChatzaf]

I scored a 25 on the test.

I do not know if that is good, bad or if there is a good or bad. Somebody tell me!

Anyway, I find the phenomenon of Autism fascinating.

gw

That is what I got. If I had taken this test when I was a youngster I would have scored in the 40's. I have been quasi-diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. It turns out that a lot of people who do (or did) software as a career are have mild Aspergers. This syndrome is a mild form of autism and people who have it are quite functional in society.

Ba'al Chatzaf

[Richard Uhler]

...

I've taken this test 3 or 4 times now, and I could easily manipulate my score upward or downward. But answering as straightforwardly as I can, I get a score of 28.

...

I scored 36, which I found sort of disturbing, but I chalk a lot of that up to shaky childhood socialisation, too much time spent alone as a kid, and general orneriness rather than sort sort of "syndrome." I'd rather read or play my horn than go to a noisy party where I don't know anybody; I'm used to doing things on my own - so what? This and some other similar tests I've encountered lead me to think that someone somewhere is trying to establish "social and gregarious" as "normative and desirable."

Edited May 26, 2007 by Richard Uhler