ggreig

It was interesting to come across an old article containing the Autism-Spectrum Quotient Test, which is apparently used as a measure of the extent of autistic traits in adults. There are also warnings from the authors that it’s not a diagnostic tool, so I reckon it falls into the category of “interesting toy that might have indicative results”. Speak to a real medical professional if you have any concerns.

Anyway, the average score for a control group was 16.4, with a score of 32 or more indicating “clinically significant levels of autistic traits”. Don’t read too much into it, you can score more than 32 and still live a normal life, etc.

I scored 33.

I’m quite happy with that. As I have at least the self-awareness of a bollard, I know I’m not the world’s most socially capable person, but any other symptoms would be relatively mildly displayed. I like order, and I can get into routines, in ways that can no doubt be annoying for others, but I’m not seriously obsessive about them; just more comfortable. My liking for order is selective; I can still be pretty messy and disorganised!

I’m happy to have a borderline score because that’s pretty much where I would see myself; somewhere near the edge of most people’s social scale, but fully functioning. I’m also quite happy being a software developer, a profession where people seem to reckon such traits may be more common.

I’m mildly relieved the number wasn’t higher, partly because I don’t want to think of myself as having a “condition” with its accompanying labels, but mainly because I don’t want an excuse. If I’m difficult to deal with in some way, that’s my responsibility and my fault (or maybe yours ;-).

Edit: Realized that the last paragraph could read as being dismissive of the condition of autism. That's not my intention.