The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ)--adolescent version.
The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) quantifies autistic traits in adults. This paper adapted the AQ for children (age 9.8-15.4 years). Three groups of participants were assessed: Group 1: n=52 adolescents with Asperger Syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA); Group 2: n=79 adolescents with classic autism; and Group 3, n=50 controls. The adolescents with AS/HFA did not differ significantly from the adolescents with autism but both clinical groups scored higher than controls. Approximately 90% of the adolescents with AS/HFA and autism scored 30+, vs. none of the controls. Among the controls, boys scored higher than girls. The AQ can rapidly quantify where an adolescent is situated on the continuum from autism to normality.
Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, CB2 2AH, Cambridge, UK. sb205@cam.ac.uk
Simon
S
Baron-Cohen
Rosa A
RA
Hoekstra
Rebecca
R
Knickmeyer
Sally
S
Wheelwright
D000293:Adolescent; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014888:Wechsler Scales