Overview Of Autism Spectrum Quotient

By Jack Morgan


Autism Spectrum Quotient is a questionnaire which was published in the year 2001. This questionnaire is commonly abbreviated as AQ. It was published by Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues. They published the questionnaire at autism research center which is based in United Kingdom at a place called Cambridge. It contains fifty questions which aim at establishing as to whether adults of average intelligence have got symptoms of autism.

Within the preliminary trials from the check, the standard rating inside the management group of people was 16.4, with males rating somewhat higher than girls (about seventen versus about fifteen). 80% of adults diagnosed with autism variety disorders scored 32 or more, compared with only 2% of the manage group.

The format of autism spectrum quotient test has usually 50 sets of statements that will allow the subject to answer either definitely agree, or slightly agree, or slightly disagree, or definitely disagree. There are five different types of questions that will test the communication skills, social skills, attention to detail, imagination, and switching attention (tolerance of change).

A further research paper indicated that the list of questions could be used for evaluating in clinical practice, with scores below 26 indicating that the diagnosis of Asperger issue can effectively be ruled out.

The trial test established that students who were taking engineering, mathematics and physical sciences scored significantly high. The average score for the students taking mathematics was 21.8 and the number of those taking computer sciences was found to be 21.4. The winners of the British Mathematicians Olympiad got an average of 24. Eleven out of the total students who scored 32 and above agreed to get interviewed. Seven out of these eleven students met the criteria that were used for AQ.

The subject who is considered autistic has trouble understanding in communication and social. There is no exact cure of the disorder. However, it is very possible to manage the obvious symptoms and this can be done with behavioral treatment. The absence of social skills does not mean they are rude; instead, they have trouble understanding with social indications.

Although most college pupils with Asperger symptoms or high working autism have typical mathematical analyze and ability a bit worse in math compared to general knowledge, some are blessed in mathematics and Asperger syndrome hasn't prevented some men and women from major triumphs such as winning the Nobel Prize. The questionnaire was experimented with on Cambridge School students, and a group of sixteen winners of the British Mathematical Olympiad, to determine whether there seemed to be a link between a expertise for mathematical and scientific disciplines and traits associated with the autism spectrum.

Overall, improvements can be shown gradually in different stages. The importance is, to detect the early intervention of having autism signs at an early age in order undergo behavioral treatment.




About the Author: