Help identifying whether or not I have Aspergers

[Destinyz12]

I don't know if this is the best section to put this in, but I'm doing it anyway. I've been wondering and doing quite a bit of research lately to try and figure out if I do in fact have Aspergers.
**I have not been evaluated by a professional, and at this point, I am unsure if I want to go through with that whole process just yet, so please don't suggest doing so as a response to my post** But anyway, I am a 31 year old female, and I scored a 27 on the AQ test which doesn't help too much since a score of 26-31 is considered borderline and people could go either way in that range. I know it's not the same as a real diagnoses but.... I would love to hear some input and opinions from people on whether you think I may have it based on all of the traits I listed below:

TYPICAL ASPERGERS TRAITS THAT I HAVE:
-REALLY BOTHERED BY DISRUPTIONS IN ROUTINE, AND CHANGES IN GENERAL
-FOOD TEXTURE ISSUES/EXTREME PICKINESS
-MATERIAL SENSITIVITIES (MUST HAVE SOFT CLOTHING & BLANKETS OF CERTAIN MATERIALS)
-BOTHERED BY OUT OF ORDINARY SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS (SUCH AS ON VACATION)
-VERY INTO MAKING ORGANIZED LISTS
-DIFFICULTY KEEPING UP IN LARGE GROUP CONVERSATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN NEW/UNFAMILIAR SITUATIONS
-DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING EYE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE (EXCEPT FOR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS AND SOMETIMES FAMILY)
-DIFFICULTY WITH SMALL TALK AND DIFFICULTY INITIATING CONVERSATIONS UNLESS THERE’S A SPECIFIC TOPIC IN MIND
-EASILY MAKES CASUAL FRIENDS/AQUAINTENCES, BUT DIFFICULTY FORMING CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS
-FIXATIONS/OBSESSIONS WITH CERTAIN TOPICS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME
-PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY, ESPECIALLY WITH FACTS AND NUMBER RELATED THINGS SUCH AS BIRTHDAYS
-EXTREMELY ORGANIZED, AND CHANGES OR DISRUPTIONS IN ORGANIZATION BOTHER ME
-CAN ADD LARGE NUMBERS IN MY HEAD VERY FAST
-HIGH IQ AND GOT EXCELLENT GRADES IN SCHOOL ALMOST EFFORTLESSLY
-DIFFICULTY PROCESSING TOO MANY VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS AT ONCE, DOES BETTER WHEN WRITTEN DOWN
-DAY DREAM A LOT AND OFTEN CREATE UNREALISTIC SCENARIOS IN MY HEAD
-AWKWARD/DIFFICULTY WITH EXPRESSING AFFECTION (EXCEPT FOR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS)
-HYPER AWARENESS OF SURROUNDINGS (OFTEN NOTICE SMALL AND SOMETIMES INSIGNIFICANT DETAILS THAT OTHERS DON’T)
-DIFFUCLTY EXPRESSING MYSELF WHEN UPSET OR FRUSTRATED (DO MUCH BETTER IF I WRITE THINGS OUT)
-DIFFICULTY BEING OPEN TO NEW INTERESTS/ACTIVITIES
-CAN TAKE THINGS VERY PERSONALLY/EASILY OFFENDED
-OFTEN GET ANGRY OR AGITATED OVER SMALL ISSUES BUT KEEP IT TO MYSELF BECAUSE I DISLIKE CONFRONTATION (DON’T KNOW IF THIS ONE IS A COMMON ASPERGERS TRAIT)
-GET DEFENSIVE EASILY WHEN CRITICIZED OR ACCUSED OF SOMETHING
-SOMETIMES EXHIBIT WHAT MAY BE CONSIDERED STIMS, SUCH AS LIGHTLY ROCKING WHEN BORED OR IMPATIENT, SUBTLE VOCAL/THROAT SOUNDS OR RUBBING LEGS TOGETHER UNDER THE COVERS AT NIGHT, BUT EASILY ENOUGH CONTROLLED NOT TO DO IT AROUND PEOPLE
-WATCHING THINGS SPIN AND RUNNING WATER IS VERY CALMING

THINGS ABOUT ME THAT ARE THE OPPOSITE OF TYPICAL ASPERGER TRAITS, WHICH IS WHY IT MAY HAVE GONE UNNOTICED FOR SO LONG:
-VERY GOOD AT PICKING UP SOCIAL CUES AND READING PEOPLES BEHAVIOR/EXPRESSIONS
-VERY SENSITIVE/EMOTIONAL AT TIMES AND GOOD AT FEELING/EXPRESSING SYMPATHY TO OTHERS
-WAS AN EARLY TALKER AND ALWAYS HIT BABY/TODDLER MILESTONES ADVANCED OR ON TIME
-ALWAYS BEEN ADVANCED IN FINE MOTOR SKILLS (SKILLED ARTIST AND BOWLER) AND DECENT ATHLETIC SKILLS
-NEVER NEEDED ANY KIND OF SPECIAL/INTERVENTION SERVICES IN SCHOOL AND IN FACT, I WAS OFTEN PLACED IN ADVANCED CLASSES
- DESPITE SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES, I ENJOY A HEALTHY BALANCE OF SOCIAL CONTACT /OUTINGS AND MY OWN PERSONAL SPACE
- I RECOGNIZE FACES VERY EASILY, EVEN WHEN NOT SEEING SOMEONE FOR A LONG TIME
-VERY GOOD AT PICKING UP AND DISHING OUT SARCASM, AND HUMOR/JOKES IN GENERAL
-OPPOSITE OF NAIVE/GULLIBLE AND EASILY RECOGNIZE WHEN THINGS AREN'T MEANT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY/SERIOUSLY
-DOESN’T HAVE ANY OF THE STEREOTYPICAL 'GEEKY' INTERESTS THAT ARE COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH ASPERGERS (SCI-FI, VIDEO GAMES, FIXING COMPUTERS, ECT.)
-DOESN'T HAVE ROBOTIC-LIKE VOICE/MANNERISMS

 

[Judge]

Interesting. Your Aspie and NT traits do seem to quantitatively reflect your AQ score. If you're in the US, my guess is that if you sought a professional evaluation they'd likely tell you that you aren't on the spectrum.

But it's only a guess on my part. We aren't medical professionals here. But I am self-diagnosed. Came to that conclusion a few years ago. Dealing with other autistic people in this community over the last three years has just reinforced my opinion. Of course my scores on various tests are much higher than yours.

I'd have to deliberately mimic being NT to score down in the 20s with the AQ test. I once convinced my brother to take it and he scored a "12".

You might consider taking other such tests just to add to your own perspective. In the meantime though, you may find interacting with other people here on the spectrum to be additionally helpful as I have.

 

[Destinyz12]

Thanks. I know you said it's only a guess, but just out of curiosity, what would particularly lead you to believe that A professional here in the U.S. might consider me to not have ASD? I'm pretty new here so I'm still exploring all of the posts on here and trying to get a feel for what people with ASD can be like. My mom actually works with autistic children but she works with low functioning ones for the most part so recognizing those types of people on the spectrum is really easy but I've never known anyone with Aspergers (that I'm aware of). In fact my mom has never voiced concerns to me that I may have it, but then again I don't know how much she really knows about Aspergers to begin with.

 

[StephF]

I wonder if you might like to try this test.

http://www.aspietests.org/raads/

It can identify many hidden Aspie traits. Good luck !