The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) assessment is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure traits associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It was developed by Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues in 2001 as a tool for identifying potential cases of ASD in adults. The AQ has gained widespread use in both clinical and research settings, and has become a valuable tool in understanding the autism spectrum and its impact on individuals. In this essay, we will explore the meaning and significance of the AQ assessment, including its purpose, components, and implications for individuals with ASD.
The Autism Spectrum Quotient, or 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. More recently, versions of the AQ for children and adolescents have also been published. The test was popularised by Wired Magazine in December 2001 when published alongside their article, “The Geek Syndrome” and is commonly used for self diagnosis of Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism.
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 normal 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. More recently, versions have been published for children and adolescents.
Use as a diagnostic tool
In the initial trials of the test, 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 before jumping 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. 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.
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 and Asperger syndrome has not prevented some adults from major accomplishments such as winning the Nobel Prize.
The questionnaire was trialled on Cambridge University students, and a group of sixteen 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. 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.