Autism-spectrum quotient

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 or one of the other autism spectrum conditions.[1] More recently, versions of the AQ for children[2] and adolescents[3] have also been published.

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 Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism, although it is not intended to be a diagnostic test.[5]

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.

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.[6]

More recently, versions have been published for children[2] and adolescents.[3]

Use as a diagnostic tool

In the initial trials of the test,[7] 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 Asperger syndrome, 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.[5]

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 typically developing individuals to investigate the continuum hypothesis of autism spectrum condition.[8][9][10]

Mathematicians, scientists and engineers

Although most students with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism have average mathematical ability and test slightly worse in mathematics than in general intelligence, some are gifted in mathematics[11] and Asperger syndrome has not prevented some adults from major accomplishments (such as winning the Nobel Prize).[12]

The questionnaire was tried on Cambridge University students, and a group of sixteen winners of the British Mathematical Olympiad,[7] 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. Of the students who scored 32 or more on the test, eleven agreed to be interviewed and seven of these were reported to meet the DSM-IV criteria for Asperger syndrome, although no formal diagnosis was made as they were not suffering any distress. The test was also taken by a group of subjects who had been diagnosed with autism or Asperger syndrome by a professional, the average score being 35 and 38 for males and females, respectively.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 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. doi:10.1007/s10803-005-3300-7. PMID 16119474. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  2. 1 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. 1 2 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. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0073-6. PMID 16552625. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  4. ↑ The Geek Syndrome
  5. 1 2 Take the AQ Test, Embarrassing Bodies website, Channel 4, 2011. Accessed 2011-09-16.
  6. ↑ Hoekstra RA, Bartels M, Cath DC, Boomsma DI (2008). "Factor structure, reliability and criterion validity of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): a study in Dutch population and patient groups". J Autism Dev Disord 38 (8): 1555–66. doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0538-x. PMC 2516538. PMID 18302013.
  7. 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.
  8. ↑ Wakabayashi, A.; Baron-Cohen, S. & Wheelwright, S. (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, 873-883
  9. ↑ Austin, E. J. (2005). Personality correlates of the broader autism phenotype as assessed by the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Personality and Individual Differences, 38, 451-460
  10. ↑ Hoekstra, R. A.; Bartels, M.; Verweij, C. J. H. & Boomsma, D. I. (2007). Heritability of Autistic Traits in the General Population. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 161, 372-377
  11. ↑ Chiang HM, Lin YH (2007). "Mathematical ability of students with Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism" (PDF). Autism 11 (6): 547–56. doi:10.1177/1362361307083259. PMID 17947290. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
  12. ↑ Herera S (2005-02-25). "Mild autism has 'selective advantages'". CNBC. Retrieved 2007-11-14.

External links

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