Hi Sherlock, love that name    have a look at the "self diagnosis" thread in the general section, there are various tests available online, try those first and see how you feel, you could then consider seeing a doctor and asking for a diagnosis if you wanted to. Not sure what country you are in, its not easy to get an adult diagnosis though.

"NT" stands for "Next Target"

- a sniper

It means Neuro Typical, ie "normal".

Thanks Amy,
I checked out the Sacha Baron Cohen AQ test, scored 41 out of 50, and apparently people scoring 32 or above should consider the possibility of having Asperger's. Trouble is, like all the tests/diagnoses I have looked at, it's all very vague and many NTs could score higher than 32, apparently . A chatgroup I came across on the internet   had done the  test and some scored above 32, yet none of them considered themselves Aspies.
I guess the only way I can be sure is if I get a diagnosis from a british doctor. I tried  before contacting http://www.nas.org.uk  by e-mail but got no answer. Anyone know of a doctor/psychologist near London England who could diagnose me by chance?
Thanks
Bester

You could try the Center for social and communication disorders, run by Dr.Lorna Wing, in Kent.

Did you have a listen to this yet, its interesting -

http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/phpBB2/v....php?t=378

Thanks Amy, I'll check out that Center in Kent soonest.
Bester

Have you read this thread Sherlock?

http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/phpBB2/v...ighlight=I

I expect we'll eventually find that most "nerds" are Aspies (albeit without the tics and things) at least as far as the body language issue is concerned (which is where it all started, irrespective of recent modifications and additions).

In the various tests available, you'll note that what they are testing are aspects of temperament, not the physical expressions the medics currently fixate on.

I wouldn't bet on it! Autism is essentially a question of temperament/neurology, but most clinicians seem to have missed this aspect!

Tell me Sherlock, as you say you're new to this subject, how is it you have such a firm view of what AS is about?

Could this be because so many clinicians rely on their own opinions and estimations, in lieu of objective assessments by the kind of tests you seem so keen to rubbish?

Just wanted to point out Sherlock that Prof Baron-Cohen does have a high standing among many as he does support those on the spectrum more than many experts.

Sorry, I seem to have been extremely tactless here. I am sure Prof Baron-Cohen  is a capable scientist and a firm supporter of autism.It's just that I am well aware that there are many other scientists doing similiar  research on the autistic spectrum, and his name does appear somewhat overly frequently in New Scientist etc. compared to them. Of course, he may just be a better scientist.
As to my knowledge of autism, it's pretty meagre, I'm afraid. The possibility of Asperger's was raised by my family  over a year ago, and I naturally follow any sparse details in the news/Internet etc., but that's about it.
Incidentally, I have been reading a lot of the rest of this website and find it a very interesting site, though, of course, most of the time I don't have a clue what the abbbreviations stand for(ABA etc.).
Sherlock

ABA is applied behavioural analysis, this and other therapies are described in detail on the autism encyclopedia (wiki), if you look on the front page there is a button for encyclopedia, you could have a look at that, it has a lot of info.

Hi Sherlock, love that name    have a look at the "self diagnosis" thread in the general section, there are various tests available online, try those first and see how you feel, you could then consider seeing a doctor and asking for a diagnosis if you wanted to. Not sure what country you are in, its not easy to get an adult diagnosis though.

Sadly, it still seems as if this is very much the case. This also brings up an issue which some other adult aspies and I think is important.

Why are we so marginalised as far as diagnosis and assistance is concerned? I realise that adults are more difficult to diagnose because of the coping strategies they have developed over time and because they often have co-existing conditions such as depression.

It seems to me though that much of the focus is on very small children with autism and that we are put in the too-hard basket by most medical professionals.