autism quotient

[robw]

Take The AQ Test

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

"Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues at Cambridge's Autism Research Centre have created the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, or AQ, as a measure of the extent of autistic traits in adults. In the first major trial using the test, the average score in the control group was 16.4. Eighty percent of those diagnosed with autism or a related disorder scored 32 or higher. The test is not a means for making a diagnosis, however, and many who score above 32 and even meet the diagnostic criteria for mild autism or Asperger's report no difficulty functioning in their everyday lives."

[robw]

Should this be renamed as the sterotype test?
where is the did you like Thomas as a child question though!


Mr B-C sure does have his own take on things.

Are you able to offer some constructive pointers to those that are looking in further their knowledge/understanding or otherwise and maybe more importantly trying to make sense of their own condition?

[forumAdmin]

Now your 2 play fair - I might have to make you sit in different corners of the forum!!

I have not done the test (yet) so if I am to understand I will

It seems to me though that if you have a critique of the test or information presented - it could be a little clearer


Should this be renamed as the sterotype test?
where is the did you like Thomas as a child question though!

I am not sure what you are saying with the Thomas thing? And as we have a wide range of thoughts and belief systems in our community you could explain the comment where I think you mean stereotypical. Is this sarcasm or belief or ? - text based communication cannot tell the subtlety of your points
Please confirm & clarify your beliefs or position

thank you for your input.

Robw - you may be jumping the gun a little - let us get some clarification before assumptions and conclusions
thank you for clarifying b-C is Simon Baron Cohen the author of the scale

[forumAdmin]

Thank you that makes a lot more sense

[robw]

With all due respect I'm not sure that it does make GUBN's original statement any clearer. This thread is about a link to a readily available tool, that some individuals may find may find helpful in understanding themselves or those that they care about a little better. Unlike most diagnostic tools it is easy to use and available to anyone with access to the internet – which I feel gives at least the possibility for an individual to have control and ownership of their condition. Surely control and ownership are person centred.

The tool does not and I have not, professed it to be in anyway a substitute for a formal diagnosis. It also does not, nor have I eluded to a predilection to any particular model of support. For the record I'm more than a fan of a “person centred” way of thinking, which by virtue cannot be prescribed. A discussion around a person centred approach should belong in it's own thread. Maybe one should be started.

GUBN wrote:

I believe that we should remember that this is just another of the many contributions to the theories out there.
Indeed I will not disagree on this point – yet again the post in no way inferred that this contribution was any more relevant than any other. My purpose in posting was to point to a potential source of information. I assume people are generally able to discriminate between information that they find useful or otherwise. No one theory is complete – this is why they are still referred to as theories.

GUBN wrote:

If I were to point a person on the spectrum towards authors I would point them to donna williams, wendy lawson, gunilla gerland etc. They offer many more valuable insights alongside a persons own experience.
Once more I would probably agree in pointing people on the spectrum to individuals that can offer them an insight in to their experiences is often useful. However people need to be pointed in the right direction

....I was said to be 'suffering from schizophrenia. It was to be more than twenty five years later that this diagnosis was over turned. Schizophrenia is an appropriate term that describes the issues many people live with. Properly diagnosed and treated many individuals are able to live full lives.” - Wendy Lawson
However how do we know there is a spectrum if it has not been explained to us, what the spectrum is, by what you call an “expert”. The condition may be organic, the term is surely noetic. Knowing that someone may on the spectrum, or even suspecting that they are, is a result of being able to apply the general guidance as set out in the given diagnostic criteria. Diagnosis means we have to be able to observe a range of common features – it's an inability to see the individual amongst these common features that leads to stereotypes. Diagnosis has helped many people on the spectrum understand themselves and in turn to be understood.

Eventually I did find out my real problem, and was diagnosed. That is one of the best things that has happened. The diagnosis also put me in contact with several people with diagnosis within the autistic spectrum and some of them have become my friends.” - Gunilla Gerland 1999

You see, I now have a diagnosis that explains who I am, why I do what I do and what I can do to help myself understand my environment better.” - Wendy Lawson
GUBN wrote:

It is not a dig at anyone, but language is important so words like "condition" does make me feel a little spikey”
Very thinly veiled I think as I am the only person to mention the term in this thread, but don't worry I'm able to look beyond that if there is something positive for me to learn in the process. Of course words are important and I challenge them when necessary and not just for the benefit of magniloquence. I use the word “condition” not out of bias or prejudice but out of respect, a willingness to learn and a need to communicate to others wishing to do the same. The context in which I have used it referrers to the spectrum and not the individual. Interestingly Wendy Lawson refers to the the spectrum in terms of a disorder and Gunilla Gerland referrers to it in terms of a condition. I respect the right of an individual to describe themselves as they see fit. Nevertheless I prefer “condition” as I feel it it does not reinforce a deficit model of the spectrum to the unenlightened. Feel free to offer us a suitable substitute that works.

[forumAdmin]

A discussion around a person centred approach should belong in it's own thread. Maybe one should be started.


This is a good point as we have strayed
Please only respond on the Autism Quotient on the thread you are viewing here


I have asked Rob to start the person centered discussion elsewhere as a new topic
http://studio3.org/members/showthread.php?t=1975

[forumAdmin]

WOW big words,

sorry was the font overboard? :p

[desc]

Language is the key to many things

No - all things
Language, our use of it and our perceptions of its meaning create everything in your personal reality.

We don't agree on the little things with our spouse for the same reason

I spent time in another country this month and their perception of the word you mention "Respect" was hugely different to mine. But life is about accepting their interpretation of the world and working within their model of their experience.

I am glad you are going to talk on this further and create an argument that shows I am wrong, but I wont be drawn on this because I respect your model of the world is different to mine.
(I can only wish for some maturity and reciprocation)

Helen Keller (if I remember) stated that before she had language there was nothing. Language created her world. And ours

I could not find that quote as it is time for bed but I did find

The highest result of education is tolerance.
Helen Keller

[forumAdmin]

I suppose the comments in this string are not the only reason I feel bullied, read this;

"what an ignorant comment to make about a renowed professor and a top expert in his field! are you just jealous or are you as ignorant as you sound???

and by the way, he DOESN'T have a brother - he has a sister and she's disabled since birth. The professor has helped to save the lives of countless Autistic people through his ground-breaking and scientifically proven research. You just can't get your head round the fact that Autistic people - males and females are MORE intelligent even than the average intelligent "normal" males, is that it?
yep, you fell insecure and JEALOUS! of us - Autistic geniuses.

LOL :smile:)) ha-ha-ha....
ok, I've had my fun now - you and your ignorant opinions don't matter to me. I have work to do - without us - Autistics - there would be no progress, no evolution... who do you think invents things that you use? CD players, iPods, computer you use to spout rubiish on on these borads.... Autistics. you couldn't do what we do unless you had a different brain wiring - extreme male intelligence or call it waht you like! We're the next step in human evolution and you - the "normals" are weak and helpless without us..."

It would be good to point out that the geniuses that are claimed are also claimed by the field of Dyslexia!!! Oh well maybe there are non-autistic geniuses like Einstein for example, or Issac Newton and every other scientist. There is no case for any camp claiming these people (that is until we can time travel)

What would be fairer to point out that maybe (and it is a maybe) it's a different life experience that provides the drive for these people.

I am sorry if I am a bit "slow" but this is another post you have produced that has confused me
I for one would appreciate it you could clarify your point a different way

are these quotes of other people (it appears so but the "" are opened and not shut in the first paragraph) or statements of your own?

and I would request you are more accurate with referencing

[forumAdmin]

sorry it was an email through the forum I recieved

You got sent that from a member of this forum? - Is this why you felt attacked?