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