Autism-spectrum quotient

Last updated
Autism Quotient for Adults
Synonyms AQ
LOINC 62738-0
Autism Quotient, Adolescent Version
LOINC 62739-8

The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) is a questionnaire published in 2001 by Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues at the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, UK. Consisting of fifty questions, it aims to investigate whether adults of average intelligence have symptoms of autism spectrum conditions. [1] More recently, versions of the AQ for children [2] and adolescents [3] have also been published.

Contents

The test was popularised by Wired in December 2001 when published alongside their article, "The Geek Syndrome". [4] It is commonly used for self diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, although it is not intended to be a diagnostic test. [5] The PhenX Toolkit uses age-specific versions of AQ as its adult and adolescent screening protocols for Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders. [6] [7]

Format

The test consists of 50 statements, each of which is in a forced choice format. Each question allows the subject to indicate "definitely agree", "slightly agree", "slightly disagree" or "definitely disagree". Approximately half the questions are worded to elicit an "agree" response from neurotypical individuals, and half to elicit a "disagree" response. The subject scores one point for each question which is answered "autistically" either slightly or definitely. [1] [8]

The questions cover five different domains associated with the autism spectrum: social skills; communication skills; imagination; attention to detail; and attention switching/tolerance of change. Factor analysis of sample results have been inconsistent, with various studies finding two, three or four factors instead of five. [9]

Use as a diagnostic tool

In the initial trials of the test, [10] the average score in the control group was 16.4, with men scoring slightly higher than women (about 17 versus about 15). 80% of adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders scored 32 or more, compared with only 2% of the control group.

The authors cited a score of 32 or more as indicating "clinically significant levels of autistic traits". However, although the test is popularly used for self-diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, the authors caution that it is not intended to be diagnostic, and advise that anyone who obtains a high score and is suffering some distress should seek professional medical advice and not jump to any conclusions.

A further research paper indicated that the questionnaire could be used for screening in clinical practice, with scores less than 26 indicating that a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome can effectively be ruled out. [1]

It is also often used to assess milder variants of autistic-like traits in neurotypical individuals. [11] [12] [13]

Mathematicians, scientists and engineers

Although most students with an autism spectrum disorder have average mathematical ability and test slightly worse in mathematics than in general intelligence, some are gifted in mathematics [14] and autism spectrum disorder has not prevented some adults from major accomplishments. [15]

The questionnaire was tried on Cambridge University students and a group of 16 winners of the British Mathematical Olympiad to determine whether there was a link between a talent for mathematical and scientific disciplines and traits associated with the autism spectrum. Mathematics, physical sciences, and engineering students were found to score significantly higher, e.g., 21.8 on average for mathematicians and 21.4 for computer scientists. The average score for the British Mathematical Olympiad winners was 24. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

Autism Neurodevelopmental disorder involving social communication difficulties and repetitive behavior

Kanner autism, or classic autism, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by challenges with social communication, and by restricted and repetitive behaviors. It is now considered part of the wider autism spectrum. The term 'autism' was historically used to refer specifically to Kanner autism, which is the convention used in much of this entry, but it is now more commonly used for the spectrum at large.

Asperger syndrome Neurodevelopmental disorder

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's, refers to a sub-category of the autism spectrum that is no longer an official diagnosis in the United States as of 2013, having been merged into autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It was said to differ from other forms of ASD by relatively unimpaired language and intelligence. The syndrome was named after the Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger, who, in 1944, described children in his care who struggled to form friendships, did not understand others' gestures or feelings, engaged in one-sided conversations about their favourite interests, and were clumsy.

Anthony John Attwood is a British psychologist notable for his work on Asperger syndrome. He resides in Queensland, Australia, where he is an Associate Professor at Griffith University.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are developmental disorders that begin in early childhood, persist throughout adulthood, and affect three crucial areas of development: communication, social interaction and restricted patterns of behavior. There are many conditions comorbid to autism spectrum disorders such as fragile X syndrome and epilepsy.

Simon Baron-Cohen British psychologist and author

Sir Simon Philip Baron-Cohen is a British clinical psychologist and professor of developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge. He is the director of the university's Autism Research Centre and a Fellow of Trinity College. In 1985, Baron-Cohen formulated the mind-blindness theory of autism, the evidence for which he collated and published in 1995. In 1997, he formulated the fetal sex steroid theory of autism, the key test of which was published in 2015.

High-functioning autism (HFA) is an autism classification where a person exhibits no intellectual disability, but may exhibit deficits in communication, emotion recognition and expression, and social interaction. HFA is not included in either the American Psychological Association's DSM-5 or the World Health Organization's ICD-10, neither of which subdivides autism based on intellectual capabilities.

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is a standardized diagnostic test for diagnosing and assessing autism. It is considered to be a "gold standard" in diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The protocol consists of a series of structured and semi-structured tasks, that involve social interaction between the examiner and the person under assessment. The examiner observes and identifies segments of the subject's behavior, and assigns these to predetermined observational categories. Categorized observations are subsequently combined to produce quantitative scores for analysis. Research-determined cut-offs identify the potential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, allowing a standardized assessment of autistic symptoms. The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), a companion instrument, is a structured interview conducted with the parents of the referred individual, and covers the subject's full developmental history.

The empathising–systemising (E–S) theory is a theory on the psychological basis of autism and male–female neurological differences originally put forward by English clinical psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen. It classifies individuals based on abilities in empathic thinking (E) and systematic thinking (S). It measures skills using an Empathy Quotient (EQ) and Systemising Quotient (SQ) and attempts to explain the social and communication symptoms in autism spectrum disorders as deficits and delays in empathy combined with intact or superior systemising.

Asperger syndrome (AS) is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is a relatively new diagnosis in the field of autism, but is no longer used and rejected by many autistic individuals. It was named after Hans Asperger (1906–80), who was an Austrian psychiatrist and pediatrician. An English psychiatrist, Lorna Wing, popularized the term "Asperger's syndrome" in a 1981 publication; the first book in English on Asperger syndrome was written by Uta Frith in 1991 and the condition was subsequently recognized in formal diagnostic manuals later in the 1990s. Details of Hans Asperger 's actions as a psychiatrist in Nazi era Austria, made public in 2018, incited reevaluation of the syndrome's name and public lobbying for a renaming of the syndrome. Under the DSM-5 and ICD-10, patients formerly diagnosable with Asperger syndrome are diagnosable with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Hans Asperger Austrian paediatrician, medical theorist, and medical professor

Johann Friedrich Karl Asperger was an Austrian physician. Noted for his early studies on atypical neurology, specifically in children, he is the namesake of the autism spectrum disorder Asperger syndrome (AS). He wrote over 300 publications on psychological disorders that posthumously acquired international renown in the 1980s. His diagnosis of autism, which he termed "autistic psychopathy", also garnered controversy. Further controversy arose during the late 2010s over allegations that Asperger referred children to a Nazi German clinic responsible for murdering disabled patients, although his knowledge and involvement remains unknown. Asperger syndrome (AS) is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is a relatively new diagnosis in the field of autism, but it is no longer an official diagnosis in the DSM-5 and ICD-10, and is rejected by many clinicians and autistic individuals. Details of Hans Asperger 's actions as a psychiatrist in Nazi era Austria, made public in 2018, incited reevaluation of the syndrome's name and public lobbying for a renaming of the syndrome. Under the DSM-5 and ICD-10, patients formerly diagnosable with Asperger syndrome are diagnosable with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Several factors complicate the diagnosis of Asperger syndrome (AS), an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Like other ASD forms, Asperger syndrome is characterized by impairment in social interaction accompanied by restricted and repetitive interests and behavior; it differs from the other ASDs by having no general delay in language or cognitive development. Problems in diagnosis include disagreement among diagnostic criteria, the controversy over the distinction between AS and other ASD forms or even whether AS exists as a separate syndrome, and over- and under-diagnosis for non-technical reasons. As with other ASD forms, early diagnosis is important, and differential diagnosis must consider several other conditions.

Autism spectrum Range of neurodevelopmental disorders

The autism spectrum is a range of neurodevelopmental conditions primarily characterized by significant difficulties in social interactions, differences in communication, and presentations of rigid and repetitive behavior. Unusual responses to sensory input, including high or low sensitivity, sensory discrimination, and sensory-based motor impairments are also highly prevalent. It is commonly referred to as autism and officially designated autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test, abbreviated as CAST and formerly titled the Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test, is a tool to screen for autism spectrum disorder in children aged 4–11 years, in a non-clinical setting. It is also called the Social and Communication Development Questionnaire.

Empathy quotient (EQ) is a psychological self-report measure of empathy developed by Simon Baron-Cohen and Sally Wheelwright at the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge. EQ is based on a definition of empathy that includes cognition and affect.

Males are more frequently diagnosed with autism than females. It is debated whether this is due to a sex difference in rates of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or whether females are underdiagnosed. The prevalence ratio is often cited as about 4 males for every 1 female diagnosed. Other research indicates that it closer to 3:1 or 2:1. One in every 42 males and one in 189 females in the United States is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. There is some evidence that females may also receive diagnoses somewhat later than males; however, thus far results have been contradictory.

The Social Responsiveness Scale, developed by John Constantino and his colleagues in 2003, is a quantitative measure of autistic traits in 4–18 year olds. Its correlation with behaviour problems and autism spectrum disorder symptoms has been studied. It can be assessed with an 18 question survey filled out by the child's parents or teacher.

The Ritvo Autism & Asperger Diagnostic Scale (RAADS) is a psychological self-rating scale developed by Dr. Riva Ariella Ritvo. An abridged and translated 14 question version was then developed at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at the Karolinska Institute, to aid in the identification of patients who may have undiagnosed ASD.

Although it is not known exactly what causes one to be on the autism spectrum or what causes one's sexual orientation or gender identity partly due to the focus on children instead of adults, a few limited studies into autistic people have shown higher rates of LGBT identities and feelings among autistic people than the general population.

Double empathy problem Psychological theory regarding individuals on the autism spectrum

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Woodbury-Smith MR, Robinson J, Wheelwright S, Baron-Cohen S (2005). "Screening adults for Asperger Syndrome using the AQ: a preliminary study of its diagnostic validity in clinical practice" (PDF). J Autism Dev Disord. 35 (3): 331–5. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.653.8639 . doi:10.1007/s10803-005-3300-7. PMID   16119474 . Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  2. ↑ Auyeung B, Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Allison C (2008). "The Autism Spectrum Quotient: Children's Version (AQ-Child)" (PDF). J Autism Dev Disord. 38 (7): 1230–40. doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0504-z. PMID   18064550 . Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  3. ↑ Baron-Cohen S, Hoekstra RA, Knickmeyer R, Wheelwright S (2006). "The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ)—adolescent version" (PDF). J Autism Dev Disord. 36 (3): 343–50. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.654.1966 . doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0073-6. PMID   16552625 . Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  4. ↑ The Geek Syndrome Archived February 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Take the AQ Test Archived March 28, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , Embarrassing Bodies website, Channel 4, 2011. Accessed 2011-09-16.
  6. ↑ "Protocol Overview: Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders - Adult". PhenX Toolkit, Ver 20.0. RTI International. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "Protocol Overview: Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders - Adolescent". PhenX Toolkit, Ver 20.0. RTI International. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017.
  8. ↑ "Each item scores one point if the respondent records the abnormal behaviour either mildly or strongly"
  9. ↑ Hoekstra RA, Bartels M, Cath DC, Boomsma DI (September 2008). "Factor structure, reliability and criterion validity of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): A study in Dutch population and patient groups". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 38 (8): 1555–66. doi: 10.1007/s10803-008-0538-x . PMC   2516538 . PMID   18302013.
  10. 1 2 Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Skinner R, Martin J, Clubley E (2001). "The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians" (PDF). J Autism Dev Disord. 31 (1): 5–17. doi:10.1023/A:1005653411471. PMID   11439754 . Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  11. ↑ Wakabayashi A, Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S (October 2006). "Are autistic traits an independent personality dimension? A study of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the NEO-PI-R". Personality and Individual Differences. 41 (5): 873–883. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2006.04.003.
  12. ↑ Austin EJ (January 2005). "Personality correlates of the broader autism phenotype as assessed by the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)". Personality and Individual Differences. 38 (2): 451–460. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2004.04.022.
  13. ↑ Hoekstra RA, Bartels M, Verweij CJ, Boomsma DI (April 2007). "Heritability of Autistic Traits in the General Population". Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 161 (4): 372–377. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.161.4.372 . PMID   17404134.
  14. ↑ Chiang HM, Lin YH (2007). "Mathematical ability of students with Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism". Autism. 11 (6): 547–56. doi:10.1177/1362361307083259. PMID   17947290.
  15. ↑ Herera S (2005-02-25). "Mild autism has 'selective advantages'". CNBC. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
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