Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) in screening features of autism spectrum: Discriminatory ability of screening form in young adults

Authors

• Soile Loukusa Research Unit of Logopedics, University of Oulu
• Aija Kotila Research Unit of Logopedics, University of Oulu
• Marja-Leena Mattila Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital and PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu
• Maija Ylämäki South Karelia Social and Health Care District (Eksote)
• Leena Joskitt Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital and PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu
• Irma Moilanen Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital and PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu
• Hanna Ebeling Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital and PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu
• Tuula Hurtig Research Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu and Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23997/pk.107693

Keywords:

attention to details, attention switching, autism spectrum, AQ, communication, screening, social skills

Abstract

Features of autism spectrum include areas of social skills, communication, imagination,
attention switching and attention to details. These features can be screened with Autism
Spectrum Quotient (AQ). The purpose of this study is to obtain Finnish performance
values for AQ and to study whether the AQ discriminates Finnish young adults on the
autism spectrum from same-gender controls without autism spectrum diagnosis. In addition,
differences between groups in each item and internal consistency of AQ has been studied. A
total of 52 young adults on the autism spectrum (39 males and 13 females) and 1686 controls
(577 males and 1109 females) took part in this study. Results show that individuals on the
autism spectrum have higher scores than same-gender controls. AQ discriminates quite
well males on the autism spectrum from control males but only fairly females on the autism
spectrum from control females. In item analysis most statistically significant differences
between groups were found in items measuring social skills and communication.