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Friday, May 16, 2008
Champagne Terrace/Bordeaux (Novotel London West)
10:30 AM
Background: Few studies have attempted to describe the profile of social difficulties exhibited by adults with ASD. Recent retrospective and prospective investigations (e.g., Seltzer et al., 2003; Shattuck et al., 2007; Howlin et al., 2004) have reported general improvement in ASD symptoms over time, but these studies have focused primarily on parent-reported changes in childhood symptoms.
Objectives: This study investigates the social symptoms of ASD in adulthood from the adult’s perspective. We combine information obtained from standardized questionnaires with semi-structured interview responses in order to describe the range of social strengths and difficulties experienced by adults with ASD.
Methods: Data were collected as part of a longitudinal study supported by the NIA (R01 AG08768). Eighty five adults, all previously diagnosed with ASD, between the ages of 18 and 53 years (M=25 years) who had provided data about social relationships were included in the current study. Approximately 34% of those who completed cognitive testing received a full-scale IQ score of 70 or below.
Results: Only 13% of individuals scored above the suggested ASD cut-off on the Autism Spectrum Questionnaire (Baron-Cohen et al., 2001). Participants generally reported high levels of social interest; 73% preferred to do things with others rather than alone, and 67% enjoyed social chit-chat. However, according to the social relationships interview, only 41% had contact with their closest friend more than once per month.
Conclusions: Preliminary analyses suggest a discrepancy between the amount of social contact desired by adults with ASD and the amount that they actually experience. Further analyses of the interview data will allow more detailed examination of this question. Information about the social symptom profile of adults with ASD is critical to the improvement of assessment and diagnostic techniques, as well as to the development of effective social skills interventions.
Objectives: This study investigates the social symptoms of ASD in adulthood from the adult’s perspective. We combine information obtained from standardized questionnaires with semi-structured interview responses in order to describe the range of social strengths and difficulties experienced by adults with ASD.
Methods: Data were collected as part of a longitudinal study supported by the NIA (R01 AG08768). Eighty five adults, all previously diagnosed with ASD, between the ages of 18 and 53 years (M=25 years) who had provided data about social relationships were included in the current study. Approximately 34% of those who completed cognitive testing received a full-scale IQ score of 70 or below.
Results: Only 13% of individuals scored above the suggested ASD cut-off on the Autism Spectrum Questionnaire (Baron-Cohen et al., 2001). Participants generally reported high levels of social interest; 73% preferred to do things with others rather than alone, and 67% enjoyed social chit-chat. However, according to the social relationships interview, only 41% had contact with their closest friend more than once per month.
Conclusions: Preliminary analyses suggest a discrepancy between the amount of social contact desired by adults with ASD and the amount that they actually experience. Further analyses of the interview data will allow more detailed examination of this question. Information about the social symptom profile of adults with ASD is critical to the improvement of assessment and diagnostic techniques, as well as to the development of effective social skills interventions.