I thought it could be fun/interesting to go through an autism test question by question, and see what resonates with people, and how we approach thinking about the questions. So to start, here’s question 1 of the AQ-10.

1. I often notice small sounds when others do not.

  • Definitely Agree
  • Slightly Agree
  • Slightly Disagree
  • Definitely Disagree

Is this statement true for you? Can you think of any examples? Is it an easy or difficult question for you to answer?

You can find the full AQ-10 test here. Note this test is intended as a quick screener, and cannot diagnose or rule out any condition on its own.

next post
conclusion and results

  • BOMBSMEnglish
    3•1 year ago

    Yeah, I get pretty distracted by certain noises in particular. Lawn equipment is my downfall. I cannot concentrate on anything with gas powered lawn equipment running, and if the noise is present for long enough, I will get frustrated. Before noise cancelling earphones, I have left my house because of this noise. Another one, though it might not be exclusively an autistic thing, is gun shot noises. I hear every single one.

    How about “brain shaking”? There are certain noises that make me feel like my brain is literally shaking in my head. Fire alarms, fire trucks, …anything loud and piercing will make me have this experience. Interestingly, bass tones do not do this. Even if the bass feels like it’s going to shake my heart out of my chest, it doesn’t do the brain shaking thing.

    • @octoperson@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      2•1 year ago

      I don’t know about ‘literally shaking’ (depends if you mean ‘literally literally’ or ‘figuratively literally’ haha). But loud shrill sounds do come with their own unique quality - a sort of pressing/shrinking sensation that leaves a sort of echo even after the sound stops.

      It’s tough to know with these sort of things - nobody of any neurotype likes loud annoying noises. But without access to their experience, how can you know if you dislike it in the same way?

      • BOMBSMEnglish
        1•1 year ago

        Oh yeah, it’s literally literal brain-shaking.

        But without access to their experience, how can you know if you dislike it in the same way?

        I don’t think there is a definite way. Aside from some fantastic technology or intricate psychological setups, I think the best we can do is compare reactions to stimuli and then talk about differences.