You have both neurotypical and neurodiverse traits

[Caitie33]

I recently took a test online and I scored high in both neurodiverse and neurotypical traits. I'm not sure what that means, does that mean that I may not have AS?

 

[ksheehan88]

I recently took a test online and I scored high in both neurodiverse and neurotypical traits. I'm not sure what that means, does that mean that I may not have AS?

Which test was it you took?

The only way to know for sure I would think would be a professional diagnosis - someone said to me on here to only use the test as an informative tool, rather than a diagnostic one. xx

 

[Aeolienne]

Personally I dislike this talk of traits. You might just as well say you have traits of diabetes if you feel thirsty and have an urgent need to urinate sometimes. IMVHO.

 

[Kit]

I got both on the final version as well. I honestly felt it was accurate because I have always felt I was too normal to be different but too different to be normal.

 

[Katherine Rawstron]

You could be borderline, or you may have misunderstood the questions. Sometimes, it can be difficult to answer a question accurately, for example, if it asks about something that only applies occasionally, or did when you were younger but not now, but after you were 16.
I did the Simon Baron-Cohen test, but took it before I read the book, and found I'd misunderstood some of the questions; for example, when it asked if I can see the bigger picture, I answered yes, because I took it to mean seeing a situation from all angles; when I read the book, it turned out to mean seeing a whole painting at once, as opposed to one tiny part of it. When I was supposed to take something literally, I took it figuratively! You just can't win, can you!

 

[Southern Discomfort]

It's basically indicating you have autistic tenancies. You could be a false positive or a false negative, the only real way you'll find out is to talk to a experienced, well trained doctor. These tests are NOT a means of diagnosing someone, bear that in mind.

 

[Caitie33]

I know that the test online are not an official diagnosis and that is exactly what the results said is that I have both neurotypical and neurodiverse traits. I appreciate the constructive feedback and was not looking to be attacked by someone who doesn't like my wording, or rather the tests wording.

 

[Judge]

I know that the test online are not an official diagnosis and that is exactly what the results said is that I have both neurotypical and neurodiverse traits. I appreciate the constructive feedback and was not looking to be attacked by someone who doesn't like my wording, or rather the tests wording.

Hang in there...keep reading about everyone's traits and behaviors. And how prominent you may consider your own. It's ultimately a complex equation that can't be objectively determined by a test score alone. Though the tests are certainly tools to help with your overall analysis.

 

[Caitie33]

Personally I dislike this talk of traits. You might just as well say you have traits of diabetes if you feel thirsty and have an urgent need to urinate sometimes. IMVHO.

Excessive thirst and frequently needing to urinate are symptoms of diabetes. That is why the test says to rate each question never, sometimes, mostly, or always. Yes I prefer to call them traits, not symptoms because I don't have a disease. Just as I prefer the term neurodiverse to syndrome or disorder because there is nothing "wrong" with me because my brain is wired a little differently than most peoples. I think most people on here could agree with me that we are here discuss openly with like minded people. I didn't sign up to be judged or judge any one else. I think most of us already face enough judgement and criticism from the rest of the world for being different.

 

[Caitie33]

Hang in there...keep reading about everyone's traits and behaviors. And how prominent you may consider your own. It's ultimately a complex equation that can't be objectively determined by a test score alone. Though the tests are certainly tools to help with your overall analysis.

Thanks. I know I relate to most of what people on here say. Before taking any test I was just trying to read a lot of articles about aspergers, thats how I found this forum. Everything I've read so far is like finding the missing link. The only reason I even started reading about Aspergers is because my son (4) seems to have some form of HFA or AS. I was diagnosed with ADD as a kid, but reading about people with Aspergers, it describes me and also my twin brother. I think what is confusing is it describes me more as a kid than as an adult. I spent my whole life trying to understand people, its my main interest. It seems like I acquired most of my NT traits.

 

[Judge]

It seems like I acquired most of my NT traits.

For me I came to the conclusion that I simply mimic such traits. Like so many of us here, I fake it. Usually exhausting me even under the most positive situations. Though that's something I began doing at a much older age....near adulthood. Socialization for me became increasingly difficult around the age of ten.

I missed my calling. I should have been an actor.

 

[Southern Discomfort]

and was not looking to be attacked by someone who doesn't like my wording, or rather the tests wording.

No, I'm not attacking you. I just don't want people to take these things as gospel. There are false positives and false negatives and if you do go down the route of diagnosis be prepared for some doctors to not agree with the these tests and mixed results.

 

[StephF]

The whole thing about the Autism Spectrum is that we may or may not have traits across a whole range of behaviors. That is why you cannot stereotype Auties.

I also have a mixture on learned & un-learned behaviours.