Published on 12, July, 2020
I have just been emailed this questionnaire to fill in on in relation to a student that I teach. If you have a moment... read the questions. Would you score yourself 20/27 or more?
The thread subject relates to Question 14!!
Appendix II The High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ)
(A score over 20 would indicate that the patient should be referred for detailed assessment).
This child stands out from other children of his/her age in the following way;
1 is old-fashioned or precocious
No
Somewhat
Yes
2 is regarded as an ‘eccentric professor’ by the other children
3 lives somewhat in a world of his/her own with restricted idiosyncratic intellectual interests
4 accumulates facts on certain subjects (good rote memory) but does not really understand the meaning
5 has a literal understanding of ambiguous and metaphoric language
6 has a deviant style of communication with a formal, fussy, ‘old-fashioned’ or ‘robot- like’ language
7 invents idiosyncratic words and expressions
8 has a different voice or speech
9 expresses sounds involuntarily; clears throat, grunts, smacks, cries or screams
10 is surprisingly good at some things and surprisingly poor at others
11 uses language freely but fails to make adjustments to fit social contexts or the needs of different listeners
12 lacks empathy
13 makes naïve and embarrassing remarks
14 has a deviant style of gaze
15 wishes to be sociable but fails to make relationships with peers
16 can be with other children but only on his/her terms
17 lacks best friend
18 lacks common sense
19 is poor at games; no idea of cooperating in a team, scores ‘own goals’
20 has clumsy, ill coordinated, ungainly, awkward movements or gestures
21 has involuntary face or body movements
22 has difficulties in completing simple daily activities because of compulsory repetition of certain actions or thoughts
23 has special routines; insists on no change
24 shows idiosyncratic attachment to objects
25 is bullied by other children
26 has markedly unusual facial expression
27 has markedly unusual posture
bollix I do!
Thanks Jonesy...
I can relate to the ups and downs following diagnosis, but it was a relief not to have to kill myself trying to "fit in" or assimilate, pretend to be capable, pretend to understand, laugh…
I do this.. *whistles inconspicuously*
I'm sorry to hear that you had a negative experience...
I'm reading the list, saying Yes to each point (about myself), remembering the events which led to me losing my previous job and wishing I'd had the formal diagnosis earlier than this year.
My line manager started asking me whether I'd read the company's policy on "Staring" and, on reflection and with the help of friends' explanations, I now realise 1. I was staring a lot without being aware of that, 2. People felt uncomfortable with the way I was staring, 3. Nobody at work was aware that I had Autism, so they didn't make any special allowances for my difference in social interaction/gazing etc, 4. I had no idea that the company didn't have a policy on "Staring" because I tend to take what others say very literally... I spent about 3 days searching the company's intranet for the Staring policy, I asked my peers, then asked other managers, before finally asking the manager who had raised the subject. (After all that, he simply said that there probably wasn't one, which confused me further... I was just trying to follow corporate procedure and carry out my line manager's instructions.)
Things went downhill very quickly, as per usual when I start a new job, and I was not offered the position when my probation came to an end.... thank goodness for my diagnosis! I'm learning to express myself, explain my 'differences' and generally receive less judgmental, more understanding responses from people these days :-)
Thats terrible that you lost your job over staring. I think sometimes NTs just can't handle our differences and feel very uncomfortable with anyone that doesn't 'fit in' and often find the flimsiest excuses to reject us be it in the workplace or anywhere else. Glad things have been better for you since getting your diagnosis. I got mine recently (10 months ago) too but have only told a few select people. I'm a househusband so don't have to deal with ignorant bosses anymore but if I ever had a change in circumstances and had to return to the world of work I'd be quite worried about experiences like you have described.
Ironically, I felt quite shocked when I first received my diagnosis...(much better for it now!)
How was it for you? 10 months is a relatively short time... I hope you're getting the support you deserve :-)
I think it was a combination of things which led to me ending up on Mole Valley Council's scrap-heap, but I feel much more positive and confident in my current (temp) job and optimistic about future opportunities too...
AnnaSpanna said: I hope you're getting the support you deserve
Sadly there are no services for adult aspies in Staffordshire at all unless you count Stoke on Trent which is the best part of an hours drive away. So all my support has to come from my family and a couple of friends whom I've told.
AnnaSpanna said:How was it for you?
The process of getting a diagnosis was drawn out (although not as bad as some here have described) by them splitting it into 3 x 1 hour assessments which were stretched across 5 months so I was very relieved and elated to get my diagnosis. However once the initial euphoria of having been correct in my self diagnosis had worn off, I started to go through some quite depressive periods, something I am still experiencing now. I think I'm mourning for the normal me I have always wanted to be and tried to bend myself into but who now I know I can never be.Other than the work side how's it been for you Anna?
I can relate to the ups and downs following diagnosis, but it was a relief not to have to kill myself trying to "fit in" or assimilate, pretend to be capable, pretend to understand, laugh when others laugh even though I didn't understand the joke, feel ashamed or embarrassed when I behaved impulsively, feel inadequate because I'm unable to carry out some tasks which most people seem to find very easy (like using public transport, for example) etc and best of all, I've learned self compassion, self acceptance and I'm learning more about my condition and how it affects me...
I can't help being like this ;-)
I'm still not able to communicate verbally very easily, but I am trying to explain some of my differences (sensory/executive function/inhibition regulation/motor and verbal tics) to neuro typical people so that, hopefully, I am less likely to offend, upset or confuse people who don't understand my (sometimes unusual) speech or behaviour...
It's a journey!