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What questions would you set for an online Autism test?

Steven

It must be difficult, in fairness, to set suitable questions for such tests. Most are reasonably decent and fitting, perhaps (often, it's the inflexibility of the multiple-choice answer options that bother me). But some of the questions & answer-options appear loaded, borderline prejudicial or assumptive. Some seem vaguely similar to this:

'If your parents caught fire, would you:

A. Pick your nose.

B. Buy popcorn.

C. Cry until your socks shrank.

D. Toast marshmallows.

E. Hit the firefighters with a mallet, thus confirming complacent opinions that all autists are empathy-free, violent sociopaths.'

If you, as an autist, had to set questions and possible answers, what might they be?

Parents

  • The best questions could be:

    • Do you feel a strong connection to people who are misunderstood, different or otherwise neurodivergent?’
    • Do you feel a strong connection with other autistic people?
    • Is deep conversation more natural and pleasurable for you than small talk?
    • Are you interests more meaningful to you than other people?
    • Do you feel ‘lost’ or ‘lacking purpose’ if you don’t have a focused interest for a period of time?
    • Do you wonder why other people cannot just say what they mean?
    • Do you wonder why others don’t think as deeply/analyse everything in the way that you do?
    • How would you naturally behave when alone? 

    • Do you feel the world intensely?
    • Do you hyper focus or get into flow? What does it feel like? Do you gain immense autistic joy from focusing for hours on end?
    • Do you notice things others do not?
      Do you often wonder why other people behave the way they do?
    • Do you question ‘societal norms?’
    • Do you analyse items in terms of their sensory profile?
    • What is your idea of a perfect day?
    • Were you bored academically at school?
    • Are you autodidactic?
    • How much knowledge have you acquired on your interests? How does that make you feel?

     I could think of more but my list would endless!

  • in reply to Ausomely Autistic

    I really like those questions, I'm excited to answer them. Rather than feeling confused by questions that either seem irrelevant, or that a devised in a way that makes you feel flawed for answering honestly.

  • in reply to Pikl

    Thanks. I am glad these questions make sense and are meaningful to you.

    These are questions I have devised based on common autistic experiences and thought processes instead of unhelpful and pathologising observations of behaviour in ‘autism ‘ tests.

    I hope by answering these questions it will help newly identified autistic people start the discovery journey with a positive perspective of being autistic.

     I am very interested to read your answers, I look forward to them!

  • in reply to Luftmentsch

    It is. He's my third and it doesn't get easier. I am starting to understand why some people say they can't have another, which I never used to understand as being without one is horrible to me.

  • in reply to AuTriker

    I'm sorry to hear that. I've never had pets (other than fish), so I can't say I know what it feels like, but it must be hard.

  • in reply to Luftmentsch

    I didn't either prior to being asked by the receptionist to email them a photo of his vomit! Which I did find a little weird... But once I knew they would do emails it was so useful.

    Thank you, but he probably won't, it's most likely stomach cancer, but we decided against the biopsy so can't say for sure. There is an outside chance it is inflammatory bowel disease. He is responding well to meds and has his appetite back today, which is nice, but he is still hiding a lot.

  • in reply to AuTriker

    I didn't know it was an option to email in situations like that!

    I hope your cat gets well soon!

Reply Children
  • in reply to Luftmentsch

    It is. He's my third and it doesn't get easier. I am starting to understand why some people say they can't have another, which I never used to understand as being without one is horrible to me.

  • in reply to AuTriker

    I'm sorry to hear that. I've never had pets (other than fish), so I can't say I know what it feels like, but it must be hard.

  • in reply to Luftmentsch

    I didn't either prior to being asked by the receptionist to email them a photo of his vomit! Which I did find a little weird... But once I knew they would do emails it was so useful.

    Thank you, but he probably won't, it's most likely stomach cancer, but we decided against the biopsy so can't say for sure. There is an outside chance it is inflammatory bowel disease. He is responding well to meds and has his appetite back today, which is nice, but he is still hiding a lot.