Anyone involved with geeks will know that we share many character traits with those suffering Asperger syndrome: obsessive attention to detail, social awkwardness, and some difficulty relating to other people. A few years ago, I ran across a test used to diagnose Asperger syndrome, and was surprised to note that it seems like a thumbnail description of your average geek.

Being a geek, I decided to port the test from dead trees to PHP and Javascript. You can find your AQ by filling in the form below.

Note: This test has been developed using Firefox 2.x and tested on IE7. If you are not using one of those browsers, and hey, even if you are: caveat typor. There has been at least one report of Safari users being unable to see their results.

Questions answered: 0/50

What’s your AQ?

Cambridge psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen and others designed this test, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2001. This test was devised from a Globe and Mail article.

Choose your response to each question: Definitely agree, slightly agree, slightly disagree or definitely disagree.

I prefer to do things with others rather than on my own. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I prefer to do things the same way over and over again. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

If I try to imagine something, I find it very easy to create a picture in my mind. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I frequently get so strongly absorbed in one thing that I lose sight of other things. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I often notice small sounds when others do not. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I usually notice car number plates or similar strings of information. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

Other people frequently tell me that what I’ve said is impolite, even though I think it is polite. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

When I’m reading a story, I can easily imagine what the characters might look like. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I am fascinated by dates. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

In a social group, I can easily keep track of several different people’s conversations. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I find social situations easy. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I tend to notice details that others do not. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I would rather go to a library than a party. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I find making up stories easy. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I find myself drawn more strongly to people than to things. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I tend to have very strong interests, which I get upset about if I can’t pursue. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I enjoy social chitchat. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

When I talk, it isn’t always easy for others to get a word in edgeways. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I am fascinated by numbers. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

When I’m reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters’ intentions. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I don’t particularly enjoy reading fiction. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I find it hard to make new friends. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I notice patterns in things all the time. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I would rather go to the theatre than a museum. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

It does not upset me if my daily routine is disturbed. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I frequently find that I don’t know how to keep a conversation going. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I find it easy to “read between the lines” when someone is talking to me. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I usually concentrate more on the whole picture rather than the small details. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I am not very good at remembering phone numbers. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I don’t usually notice small changes in a situation, or a person’s appearance. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I find it easy to do more than one thing at once. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

When I talk on the phone, I’m not sure when it’s my turn to speak. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I enjoy doing thing spontaneously. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I am often the last to understand the point of a joke. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I am good at social chitchat. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

People often tell me that I keep going on and on about the same thing. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

When I was young, I used to enjoy playing games involving pretending with other children. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I like to collect information about categories of things (types of cars, types of birds, types of trains, types of plants, etc.). Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I find it difficult to imagine what it would be like to be someone else. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I like to plan any activities I participate in carefully. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I enjoy social occasions. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I find it difficult to work out people’s intentions. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

New situations make me anxious. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I enjoy meeting new people. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I am a good diplomat. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I am not very good at remembering other people’s date of birth. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

I find it very easy to play games with children that involve pretending. Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree

Disclaimer

This test is designed for fun. It is not meant to test you for any disorder (real or imagined). You can’t glean anything meaningful from this test without consulting with a mental health professional. It is not intended to make light of those who are suffering from autism or Aspergers syndrome. If you are worried about your mental health, see a professional.