The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) Japanese children's version Comparison between high-functioning children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and normal controls

• Published in: Shinrigaku kenkyū Vol. 77; no. 6; pp. 534 - 540
• Main Authors: Wakabayashi, Akio, Uchiyama, Tokio, Tojo, Yoshikuni, Yoshida, Yuko, Kuroda, Miho, Baron-Cohen, Simon, Wheelwright, Sally
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan The Japanese Psychological Association 01.02.2007
• Subjects: Adolescent; Asians; Asperger Syndrome - diagnosis; Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD); Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ); Autistic Disorder - diagnosis; autistic traits; Child; children; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Japan; Language; Male; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - standards; Reproducibility of Results; Japan
• ISSN: 0021-5236; 1884-1082
• DOI: 10.4992/jjpsy.77.534

The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) children's version has confirmed reliability and validity in the UK. In the current study, the children's AQ was administered in Japan to investigate whether the UK results are found in a very different culture. Two groups of children from primary and secondary schools were assessed: Group 1 (n=81) children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD, including Asperger Syndrome and high-functioning autism); Group 2 (n=372) randomly selected controls, age-matched with Group 1. The children with ASD had a mean AQ score of 31.9 (SD=6.69), which was significantly higher than controls (mean AQ=11.7, SD=5.94). Males scored significantly higher than females in the control group, but not in the ASD group. The pattern of difference between the Japanese clinical group and the control group was remarkably similar to the findings in the UK.