Some questions about the RAADS-R Autism 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. 

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.