title: Dyspraxia and autistic traits in adults with and without autism spectrum conditions.
abstract: Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are frequently associated with motor coordination difficulties. However, no studies have explored the prevalence of dyspraxia in a large sample of individuals with and without ASC or associations between dyspraxia and autistic traits in these individuals.
  
  
  
  Two thousand eight hundred seventy-one adults (with ASC) and 10,706 controls (without ASC) self-reported whether they have been diagnosed with dyspraxia. A subsample of participants then completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ; 1237 ASC and 6765 controls) and the Empathy Quotient (EQ; 1147 ASC and 6129 controls) online through the Autism Research Centre website. The prevalence of dyspraxia was compared between those with and without ASC. AQ and EQ scores were compared across the four groups: (1) adults with ASC with dyspraxia, (2) adults with ASC without dyspraxia, (3) controls with dyspraxia, and (4) controls without dyspraxia.
  
  
  
  Adults with ASC were significantly more likely to report a diagnosis of dyspraxia (6.9%) than those without ASC (0.8%). In the ASC group, those with co-morbid diagnosis of dyspraxia did not have significantly different AQ or EQ scores than those without co-morbid dyspraxia. However, in the control group (without ASC), those with dyspraxia had significantly higher AQ and lower EQ scores than those without dyspraxia.
  
  
  
  Dyspraxia is significantly more prevalent in adults with ASC compared to controls, confirming reports that motor coordination difficulties are significantly more common in this group. Interestingly, in the general population, dyspraxia was associated with significantly higher autistic traits and lower empathy. These results suggest that motor coordination skills are important for effective social skills and empathy.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Psychology, Behaviour and Achievement, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB UK ; Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1982-3034
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.affiliation: Centre for Psychology, Behaviour and Achievement, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB UK.
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hannant
authors.affiliation: Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH UK ; The Centre for Research in Autism and Education, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, 55-59 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0NU UK.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tavassoli
authors.affiliation: Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH UK.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.affiliation: Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH UK.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH UK ; CLASS Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baron-Cohen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001072:Apraxias / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D066107:Social Skills; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Autism spectrum conditions; Autistic traits; Co-morbidity; Dyspraxia; Social skills