# What is your Autism spectrum quotient? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324 "2011-12-15T19:16:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/81 "2011-12-16T10:38:23Z")
Since I think I’ve “improved” my social skills with age, I was going to take the test twice, first answering as I am now; second, guessing how I’d have answered 40-odd years ago. I scored 43 at present, so there seemed little need for the second experiment. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/82 "2011-12-16T10:41:58Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. I tend to notice details that others do not. I need ‘somethings/sometimes/depends’ option. I suspect one of my friend of being somewhat autistic. He remembers just about every phone number, birthdays, and names. He notices strangest little things all the time from all things. He counts cards automatically without giving any effort so naturally he is uncannily good at card games and casinos/gambling. His overall pictures of things/situations are often screwy and way off. But he’s very social and outgoing though. ---
**Author:** ![what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a5b964/32.png) [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/what_do_I_type_here)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/83 "2011-12-16T16:59:33Z")
I got 14. There’s one question on there that implies that if you have keen hearing, you’ve also got Asperger’s. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/84 "2011-12-16T17:09:00Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > I need ‘somethings/sometimes/depends’ option. > > I suspect one of my friend of being somewh- 1. Was that inappropriate? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/85 "2011-12-16T17:22:08Z")
1. Living with ADHD and NVLD 45 years, diagnosed with depression 20+ years. Another therapist strongly suggested Asperger’s. I’m a little atypical as I have low numeracy and enjoy parties as long as there is food, drink and music. However, being really social requires activity with an intense narrow focus (such as a band rehearsal or collector convention). But in interacting with people _as people_, I find I have to bluff and be superficial. It’s tiring, not enjoyable, and seldom leads further. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/86 "2011-12-16T17:32:05Z")
22 ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/87 "2011-12-16T17:38:53Z")
36 and it’s interesting to me because I have a child with autism. I think my score would have been even higher if they didn’t focus so much on numbers. While my daughter is, not every person with autism focuses on numbers and they’re not all good with math. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/88 "2011-12-16T17:53:54Z")
> [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](#): > > There’s one question on there that implies that if you have keen hearing, you’ve also got Asperger’s. When I was young I had an uncanny ability to hear when my name was spoken, even across a room busy with conversations. It seemed almost like an ESP, and disconcerting enough that I never practiced or tried to develop the ability. Sometimes I self-describe as “idiot-savant.” I was the last kid in Kindergarten to learn to tie one’s shoes. I think several Dopers would be happy to confirm I’m an idiot. As for “savant”, I do hold 30-odd U.S. patents and used to play Blackjack pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/89 "2011-12-16T17:57:05Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Was that inappropriate? Whoosh.. I’m not getting it. ---
**Author:** ![spanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@spanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spanna)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/90 "2011-12-16T18:05:13Z")
21 for me ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/91 "2011-12-16T18:15:30Z")
26 I wasn’t sure how to answer some of the social questions. I’m not really comfortable at parties where I don’t know people and I hate chatting on the phone. But I’m very social online and enjoy being social in person with people I know very well. I was sort of half and half with the detail questions. I find certain details and patterns fascinating. If they interest me, I’m very aware of and remember details. But if they are merely pragmatic like birthdays and phones numbers and names I tend to forget them. Not sure what any of that means. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/92 "2011-12-16T18:18:21Z")
> [@Captain\_C](#): > > 40 > > Agree: 2,4,5,6,7,9,12,13,16,19,22,23,26,33,39,41,42,43,45,46: 1 point > Disagree: 1,3,8,10,11,14,15,17,24,25,28,29,31,34,36,38,40,44,47,50: 1 point > Score: 40 > > And I’m a social worker! Good thing I wasn’t drinking coffee when I read that! ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/93 "2011-12-16T18:42:36Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > Whoosh.. I’m not getting it. I interrupted because I have no social skills. I don’t know when it’s my turn to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/94 "2011-12-16T18:48:18Z")
31 for me… is that good? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/95 "2011-12-16T18:49:05Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > I took the quiz and I got a 7. Definitely NOT autistic. > > Now let’s all have a big party and play pretend! Ooh! Ooh! I’ll try to determine what you’re thinking and feeling by observing your facial expressions! 15 here. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/96 "2011-12-16T18:58:10Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Ha. Going through that test, it struck me how many questions could be answered “definitely” by anyone seriously creative/artistic. Also, a lot of the questions described traits that could be explained by introversion just as well as social ineptitude. > > I got a 19. Totally agree. I am an introvert but the polar opposite of autistic. I’m very tuned into other people and connecting emotionally with them, almost to the exclusion of all else. I scored 17. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/97 "2011-12-16T18:58:16Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Ooh! Ooh! I’ll try to determine what you’re thinking and feeling by observing your facial expressions! 35 - I don’t understand. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/98 "2011-12-16T19:48:32Z")
I took the test twice, scoring in the early thirties the first and high twenties the second. I selected 30 to 40 in the poll. My family thought I might have Asperger’s and I was tested by a professional in my early twenties. I don’t have Asperger’s. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/99 "2011-12-16T19:59:10Z")
1. And I’m an introvert who is really good at math. Being good at math is not the same as being good at calculation, so I disagree with those here who feels it singles us out. For example, I am very good at picturing mathematical constructs, which as near as I can tell from the quiz is the opposite of Autism. But, there’s another physicist here at work who really needs to take this quiz. It is interesting watching him try to figure out what is correct behavior, or explaining to him why he pissed someone off. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324/100 "2011-12-16T20:00:03Z")
22 for me - I’m just anti-social. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-autism-spectrum-quotient/606324.md?page=6)