Some questions about the RAADS-R Autism test

I agree with others that this test is really bad, but nonetheless there is some use in it because NTs are not likely to score highly. The problem is that some autistic people might also not score highly through either masking or confusion. Getting a diagnosis relies on many more tools than just this test, if you see it more as a step to pass before progressing to the next stage than something you have to get absolutely accurate that might help (though that in itself is difficult for most of us as we have a deep need to be as accurate as possible!)

I am not suggesting you ask yourself "which answer are they expecting an autistic person to give" and putting that as a way to get assessed, but asking that question can help understand the purpose of the question and may help you reframe it in a way which applies better to you.

For the one about the apple of your eye, answer yes always (1) because you did have a hard time figuring it out even though you have now learnt it, also you struggle to work out similar things.

I'm not sure what to advise about the compassion one. If you mask a lot there is a test about that which you could also do and show your GP if your RAADS-R score is on the low side.

Try just doing it with your best guesses and see what you score. If it's easily within the autism range then you're good to go. But if it is a bit low and you don't feel that is right then do it again with different answers to the questions you weren't sure on and see what happens. If there are other specific questions you just can't figure out then post those for advice about what they mean.

I feel that the fact you are overthinking the answers and not understanding some of the questions shows you are likely one of us! So the details don't matter so much really. (It took me a while to come to that conclusion as of course details matter, right!)

The only direct advice is to give the answer that's closest to what you feel. This entire thread of replies here demonstrates the the questions are like "What is that value of PI? 1, 2, 3, or 4?" I suppose that you just have to answer 3, and hope that they are not put in charge of building suspension bridges.

It's a very old expression. The apple of the eye was the pupil, without which the eye is useless. I think the expression is old enough that it is from the days when apple was a word for any fruit, so then the image is that the pupil is the fruit of the eye, so maybe not so much the roundness as the value, as fruit was the most important part of a fruiting plant.

"Close but no cigar" - I think, from watching some movies and TV shows, that it's traditional after signing a big deal or agreement to celebrate by lighting and smoking big fat cigars. 

So then "close but no cigar" meant someone got close to agreeing a big deal, but not close enough to have actually signed the documents and completed the deal.

Thank you all for the replies so far. Very interesting.

It seems the consensus is that the questions aren't that great.

But still don't know how I should answer the unclear ones. 

Does anyone have any direct advice please?

I absolutely agree with you. Filling out forms is stressful for me and me asking questions is annoying to others. These type of tests are also quite stressful because I want to always give the correct answers. There was some test with a question if I prefer going to restaurant alone or with friends. I had no idea what to answer because I hardly ever go to restaurants, I don’t like it for various reasons and I dont have friends. 

My eyes crossed.

Apples were highly prized in the days before refrigeration and canning. If kept in a cool dry place like a root cellar, apples could last though the winter. The phrase, "You're the apple of my eye" is an analogy. Since apples are valued, it means that you are just as valued. 

Winners get cigars. 2nd place is as close as last. 

Which is a metaphor with subtext to say only winning counts.

Don Rocinante said:

"I have a hard time figuring out what some phrases mean, like 'you are the apple of my eye.'"

I know what this means (your my favourite) but what the hell does an apple have to do with an eye?? Is it because they are a similar shape?. 
I did come across another one of these phrases a few days ago (although I have heard this before. “Close but no cigar”. I know it means something nearly happened but what does a cigar and it actually happening have in common? 

Just going to LOL here in this reply for a moment after adding my essay articulating the lack of precision with the test.

INFO DUMP warning.

If you're curious and would love to read my take on all the problems with this test (not to add more thinking to extra/over-thinking) but...

I had emailed this to the centre: 

1. I am a sympathetic person.

All humans can sympathise. They can’t all relate (empathise) and some might not have compassion or might not recognise they do in a competitive society where others can be cruel. I'd be more concerned those taking this would understand the differences in rules for graciousness vs emotional intuitiveness. 

2. I often use words and phrases from movies and television in conversations.

We didn’t have a TV growing up and rarely went to the movies. So, I answered “Never True” but not sure if this skewed the results. Now, add books into that and I had been known to absorb and even 'become' her characters, but then I read Attwood 30 years ago.

6. I can 'put myself in other people's shoes.'

I’m now beginning to question if I know what this means. Humans with shared experience might understand how they would feel when well-communicated with: a bee sting, a scraped knee, being yelled at by a parent. My mother would expect this of me and also spell out what I needed to understand that I was either too young/too inexperienced to know. So, once informed of the complexity, I might genuinely feel a solidarity with the impact. But interpreting motive? No. I am often puzzled by the loss in translation. I don’t have telepathy.

8. I only like to talk to people who share my special interests.

I might only secretly Enjoy talking with others who share my interests and I’m interested in a LOT of things at their fundamental levels. But I've openly been directly told by your average individual, "I'm not interested in that." (whatever I was sharing in the minute), so to end the conversation.

9. I focus on details rather than the overall idea.

Some of us can see both. But who sees the forest without *also seeing the trees. Though, yes, I've been told I can only see the trees on numerous occasions. However, if I have a Birds Eye map, I can navigate anywhere. Context. If this question is about communication, then perhaps the other isn't explaining the over-all very well.

13. I only like to think and talk about a few things that interest me.

This is incredibly misleading! There are so many topics waiting for exploration. But also, take me to a library and show me a shelf that doesn’t possess the beauty of knowledge?? Again, plenty of NT adults outwardly will say - out loud - that doesn’t interest me. Well, WTF, I work hard to try and find interest in what you're saying. I'm always amazed at others who 'can't be bothered'.

14. I'd rather go out to eat in a restaurant by myself than with someone I know.

Nope. I’d just rather NOT go to a restaurant period, but yes, it used to be enjoyable to sit in a cafe with a book when the music or lights weren't frustrating one's ability to read.

This isn't a good polarised question. I might want to have dinner with a friend some days and other days not. Literally 50/50 split. But I spend most of my time happily alone, so there’s that.

15. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be someone else.

I don’t believe anyone can, assuming I can is called Presumption. If you try for a doctorate in philosophy, they'll make sure you don't leave with this assumption. Sundays used to be for matters of interrogating ones own bias and growing a bit of wisdom beyond presuming one has telepathy. 

19. I am very sensitive to the way my clothes feel when I touch them. How they feel is more important to me than how they look.

The first sentence: YES. Humans are sensory beings. We should be able to analyse a thing through touch. The second sentence has nothing to do with sense-perception but social economics. There's no way to answer this. 

Females especially are judged - harshly - on how we’re put together. At this point in life I have enough money and can make my own decisions, I only buy clothes that are biology-friendly (not made from petroleum, no micro-plastic fibres if I can help it). But there is an equal balance to strike - and your entire livelihood - finances, which impact ability to stay healthy - depends on ones presentation, and when you're poor, cashmere is not an option.  

21. It can be very intimidating for me to talk to more than one person at the same time.

It’s not intimidating LOL!! It’s irritating or frustrating or overwhelming. But doubtful any Autistic feels socially dominated unless they're young. And I just remember feeling like I was worthwhile but oddly invisible.

28. It is very difficult for me to understand when someone is embarrassed or jealous.

I’ve only just recognised that I actually cannot and have not understood when people are reactionary because of these motives. I’m nearly 50. I know I'm not alone. Most likely you won’t get real answers on this one.  It's not that I was convinced I knew when others felt this - I don't know how to describe it. It's like a childhood complete ignorance.

30. I get extremely upset when the way I like to do things is suddenly changed.

IT HAS NOTHING to do with what “I Like” - it is not out of choice, agency, or luxury! Please rephrase this offensive, assaulting question. Almost every single autistic I know does things for matters of SAFETY.  Many might not have been afforded the agency to make choices when young or to say no.  No one can think clearly with continual interruptions. I might be open to a new way, but if it causes recklessness, it causes far more harm than good.

35. The phrase I've got you under my skin' makes me uncomfortable.

I'd answer yes if you were speaking of a collexion of phrases: "Some phrases such as “I’ve got you…make me uncomfortable” 

I was raised with a mother in theatre. I can tell you a million other phrases that are creepy. Make these questions more sensical  please.

38. I do not connect with characters in movies and cannot feel what they feel.

A lot of movies are badly written. The motives don’t suit the characters because the screenwriters don’t take psychology classes. It's phantasy??

41. I keep lists of things that interest me, even when they have no practical use (for example sports statistics, train schedules, calendar dates, historical facts and dates).

This is only for kids in the middle class. Certain economic circumstances won’t have options for this. Second, everything has a use. I know a great deal of people like Freud, who kept a useless clutter of knick knacks because it helped him feel like an Archeologist. It wasn't useless to him. But I wouldn't need the reminder. Rephrase this like a pro "I keep things that are meaningful to me"

42. When I feel overwhelmed by my senses, I have to isolate myself to shut them down.

I don’t shut them down, I work them out. The ability to ‘shut down’ an emotional state is purely Neurotypical/Neurotic. the Technical term is called 'filtering'. The body does this with enough inhibition in the salience network. Lacan has things to say about this.

46. The same thing (like clothes or temperatures) can feel very different to me at different times.

You do realise heat with humidity affects the body different than without? Barometric pressure changes affect people but they don't know why. A kid might not recognise WHY there are differences. The body responds entirely different to Cotton than wool or Tencel or polyester. ‘Wearing just any coat’ will feel different if the coats worn are made from different fabric and the temperature + humidity + pressure is different. This needs context. 

51. I do certain things with my hands over and over again (like flapping, twirling sticks or strings, waving things by my eyes).

...what about feet? How does this apply to musicians.

52. I have never been interested in what most of the people I know consider interesting.

I literally have no idea what most people think or find interesting! I'm not convinced most people buy into things because they are interested but rather for 'tribal-connexion' / association. 

63. I like things to be exactly the same day after day and even small changes in my routines upset me.

Here’s an example of seeing the trees in the forest. Literally no day is the same. Not one. The air fluctuates. Pollen count changes. A new deadline looms. Some of us simply find ways to contain the chaos. 

And then there’s others like me: from poor families who had to continually move. You need to make reasonable adjustments for those from a lower income on these tests!! Delete the word ‘exactly’ because that’s absurd and excessively B&W and Autistics are often stuck - simply holding too many details and too many senses and too much chaos at bay.

64. How to make friends and socialize is a mystery to me.

Making friends is entirely different than socialising.

Friends require particular investments of time and resources and intent, friendships are a type of intimacy. And intimacy is awkward in a random social field. Please break these apart.

67. If I am in a place where there are many smells, textures to feel, noises or bright lights, I feel anxious frightened.

A child might interpret overwhelm as a type of fear. Once we grow up, we’re not intimidated by being inundated but angry or irritated. It should be illegal! Noise pollution, light pollution, VOCs. Too much is too much. When will we stop calling it pleasure and start recognising we're being gassed, sensory assaulted or blinded? 

73. I can't tolerate things I dislike (like smells, textures, sounds or colours).

I cannot tolerate elements used for Torture, assault - artificial non-human friendly elements. Again - please change this offensive wording. It’s not a matter of like, or luxury, doing as I please! It’s a matter of HEALTH AND SAFETY. 

I’m an adult. I can tolerate things I don’t “like”. But I will not be subjected to a room with toxic gasses, barely any ventilation and given a migraine from harsh artificial light. No one teleported from 1960 would stay in a modern hotel room. 

74. I don't like to be hugged or held.

…by anyone other than 1-2 specific family members/intimate friends. 

No one should be expected to hug a stranger or even an acquaintance. This crosses boundaries, especially for young females. 

I think that there should be an extra question at the end, "did you want more options per question?". Saying yes would score another 10 points. I'm joking, but I do think we find the lack of precision annoying and that is a sign in itself.

I filled out this test, I was also unsure in some cases. English is not my first language and I can tell you honestly - I have no idea what this phrase may mean. I always google it if I see it. For me it’s an issue if someone uses them in the speach, because I it’s hard for me to figure out first- that it’s something not literal, second - what it means, third - why was this phrase used in this situation. So I often understand with a delay or only after explanation or don’t understand at all. Also in my first language which is polish. That’s one of the reasons why I was often bullied or laughed at. Although I can google the phrase to learn it what it means, it’s still not clear to me and hard to understand if someone uses that in conversation. I’m not sure if I understand it correctly- but for this question I answered 3. As a kid I had a total inability to understand what it means that something is not literal. In polish we say “robić z igły widły” - it means to turn a needle into a fork. The meaning of it is simply exaggerating. When I was a kid I tried hard to understand how is it possible to cast a fork out of one needle, because there is not enough metal in one needle, you need maybe 100 needles to make a fork out of them. 
only as a teenager I started understanding that sometimes something is not literal - has a hidden meaning. Even now I often visualise it quite literally. For example here in Germany my colleague at work said that I showed the new colleague how the rabbit is jumping. After his explanation that I showed her the steps and how it works I still took me whole day to analyze and visualize it to make it make sense.