Protocol - Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders - Adult
- Adaptive Behavior/Adaptive Function
- Intelligence Scale - 16 to 90 years
- Intelligence Scale - 2 years, 6 months to 7 years, 7 months
- Intelligence Scale - 6 to 16 years 11 months
- Intelligence Scale - Birth to 3.5 years
- Nonverbal Reasoning
- Scale of Developmental Domains of Early Childhood
- Spatial Reasoning - Adolescents and Adults
Description
The Autism Spectrum Quotient for Adults is a 50-question self-report instrument designed to screen ages 16 years and older for symptoms of autism. A scoring key is also included. This instrument comes from the United Kingdom, where age 16 years is more readily considered an adult.
Specific Instructions
None
Availability
Protocol
1. I prefer to do things with others rather than on my own.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
2. I prefer to do things the same way over and over again.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
3. If I try to imagine something, I find it very easy to create a picture in my mind.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
4. I frequently get so strongly absorbed in one thing that I lose sight of other things.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
5. I often notice small sounds when others do not.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
6. I usually notice car number plates or similar strings of information.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
7. Other people frequently tell me that what I’ve said is impolite, even though I think it is polite.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
8. When I’m reading a story, I can easily imagine what the characters might look like.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
9. I am fascinated by dates.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
10. In a social group, I can easily keep track of several different people’s conversations.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
11. I find social situations easy.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
12. I tend to notice details that others do not.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
13. I would rather go to a library than a party.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
14. I find making up stories easy.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
15. I find myself drawn more strongly to people than to things.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
16. I tend to have very strong interests which I get upset about if I can’t pursue.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
17. I enjoy social chit-chat.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
18. When I talk, it isn’t always easy for others to get a word in edgeways.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
19. I am fascinated by numbers.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
20. When I’m reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters’ intentions.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
21. I don’t particularly enjoy reading fiction.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
22. I find it hard to make new friends.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
23. I notice patterns in things all the time.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
24. I would rather go to the theatre than a museum.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
25. It does not upset me if my daily routine is disturbed.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
26. I frequently find that I don’t know how to keep a conversation going.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
27. I find it easy to "read between the lines" when someone is talking to me.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
28. I usually concentrate more on the whole picture, rather than the small details.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
29. I am not very good at remembering phone numbers.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
30. I don’t usually notice small changes in a situation, or a person’s appearance.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
31. I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
32. I find it easy to do more than one thing at once.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
33. When I talk on the phone, I’m not sure when it’s my turn to speak.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
34. I enjoy doing things spontaneously.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
35. I am often the last to understand the point of a joke.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
36. I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
37. If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
38. I am good at social chit-chat.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
39. People often tell me that I keep going on and on about the same thing.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
40. When I was young, I used to enjoy playing games involving pretending with other children.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
41. I like to collect information about categories of things (e.g., types of car, types of bird, types of train, types of plant, etc.).
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
42. I find it difficult to imagine what it would be like to be someone else.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
43. I like to plan any activities I participate in carefully.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
44. I enjoy social occasions.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
45. I find it difficult to work out people’s intentions.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
46. New situations make me anxious.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
47. I enjoy meeting new people.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
48. I am a good diplomat.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
49. I am not very good at remembering people’s date of birth.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
50. I find it very easy to play games with children that involve pretending.
[ ] Definitely agree
[ ] Slightly agree
[ ] Slightly disagree
[ ] Definitely disagree
Scoring Key
Responses that score 1 point are marked. Other responses score 0. For total score, sum all items. Minimum score possible is 0, Maximum score possible is 50. A score of 32 or above is highly predictive of Autism Spectrum disorders in adults.
| Definitely agree | Slightly agree | Slightly disagree | Definitely disagree | ||
| 1. | I prefer to do things with others rather than on my own. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2. | I prefer to do things the same way over and over again. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 3. | If I try to imagine something, I find it very easy to create a picture in my mind. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 4. | I frequently get so strongly absorbed in one thing that I lose sight of other things. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 5. | I often notice small sounds when others do not. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 6. | I usually notice car number plates or similar strings of information. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 7. | Other people frequently tell me that what I’ve said is impolite, even though I think it is polite. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 8. | When I’m reading a story, I can easily imagine what the characters might look like. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 9. | I am fascinated by dates. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 10. | In a social group, I can easily keep track of several different people’s conversations. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 11. | I find social situations easy. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 12. | I tend to notice details that others do not. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 13. | I would rather go to a library than a party. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 14. | I find making up stories easy. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 15. | I find myself drawn more strongly to people than to things. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 16. | I tend to have very strong interests which I get upset about if I can’t pursue. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 17. | I enjoy social chit-chat. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 18. | When I talk, it isn’t always easy for others to get a word in edgeways. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 19. | I am fascinated by numbers. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 20. | When I’m reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters’ intentions. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 21. | I don’t particularly enjoy reading fiction. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 22. | I find it hard to make new friends. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 23. | I notice patterns in things all the time. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 24. | I would rather go to the theatre than a museum. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 25. | It does not upset me if my daily routine is disturbed. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 26. | I frequently find that I don’t know how to keep a conversation going. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 27. | I find it easy to "read between the lines" when someone is talking to me. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 28. | I usually concentrate more on the whole picture, rather than the small details. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 29. | I am not very good at remembering phone numbers. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 30. | I don’t usually notice small changes in a situation, or a person’s appearance. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 31. | I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 32. | I find it easy to do more than one thing at once. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 33. | When I talk on the phone, I’m not sure when it’s my turn to speak. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 34. | I enjoy doing things spontaneously. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 35. | I am often the last to understand the point of a joke. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 36. | I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 37. | If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 38. | I am good at social chit-chat. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 39. | People often tell me that I keep going on and on about the same thing. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 40. | When I was young, I used to enjoy playing games involving pretending with other children. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 41. | I like to collect information about categories of things (e.g., types of car, types of bird, types of train, types of plant, etc.). | 1 | 1 | ||
| 42. | I find it difficult to imagine what it would be like to be someone else. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 43. | I like to plan any activities I participate in carefully. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 44. | I enjoy social occasions. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 45. | I find it difficult to work out people’s intentions. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 46. | New situations make me anxious. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 47. | I enjoy meeting new people. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 48. | I am a good diplomat. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 49. | I am not very good at remembering people’s date of birth. | 1 | 1 | ||
| 50. | I find it very easy to play games with children that involve pretending. | 1 | 1 |
Personnel and Training Required
None
Equipment Needs
None
Requirements
| Requirement Category | Required |
|---|---|
| Major equipment | No |
| Specialized training | No |
| Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection | No |
| Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual | No |
Mode of Administration
Self- or proxy-administered questionnaire
Lifestage
Adult, Senior
Participants
Participants ages 16 years and older
Selection Rationale
The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) was vetted against similar protocols and was selected because it is a nonproprietary, free instrument that is low burden to investigators and respondents and is available for a variety of age ranges.
Language
Chinese, English, Spanish, Other languages available at source
Standards
| Standard | Name | ID | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) | Autism disorders adult proto | 62738-0 | LOINC |
| Human Phenotype Ontology | Autistic behavior | HP:0000729 | HPO |
| caDSR Form | PhenX PX120901 - Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorders Adult | 6164275 | caDSR Form |
Derived Variables
None
Process and Review
Expert Review Panel 4 (ERP 4) reviewed the measures in the Neurology, Psychiatric, and Psychosocial domains.
Guidance from ERP 4 included the following:
· Revised description of the measure
Protocol Name from Source
The Autism Spectrum Quotient - Adult Version
Source
Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., Martin, J., & Clubley, E. (2001). The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 5-17.
General References
American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
Ashwood, K. L., Gillan, N., Horder, J., Hayward, H., Woodhouse, E., McEwen, F. S., Findon, J., Eklund, H., Spain, D., Wilson, C. E., Cadman, T., Young, S., Stoencheva, V., Murphy, C. M., Robertson, D., Charman, T., Bolton, P., Glaser, K., Asherson, P., Simonoff, E., & Murphy, D.G. (2016). Predicting the diagnosis of autism in adults using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) questionnaire. Psychological Medicine, 46(12), 2595-2604.
Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC), Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network Surveillance Year 2006 Principal Investigators. (2009). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders-Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, United States, 2006. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summaries, 58(10), 1-20.
Hadjikhani, N., Zürcher, N. R., Rogier, O., Hippolyte, L., Lemonnier, E., Ruest, T., Ward, N., Lassalle, A., Gillberg, N., Helles, A., Gillber, C., Solomon, P., Prkachin, K. M., & Gillberg, C. (2014). Emotional contagion for pain is intact in autism spectrum disorders. Translational Psychiatry, 4(1), e343.
Uzefovsky, F., Allison, C., Smith, P., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2016). Brief Report: The Go/No-Go Task Online: Inhibitory control deficits in autism in a large sample. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(8), 2774-2779.
Protocol ID
120901
Variables
Export Variables| Variable Name | Variable ID | Variable Description | dbGaP Mapping | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PX120901_Anxious_New_Situations | ||||
| PX120901460000 | New situations make me anxious. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Collect_Categories | ||||
| PX120901410000 | I like to collect information about more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Daily_Routine | ||||
| PX120901250000 | It does not upset me if my daily routine is more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Difficulty_Imagining_Being_Someone_Else | ||||
| PX120901420000 | I find it difficult to imagine what it would more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Difficulty_Making_Friends | ||||
| PX120901220000 | I find it hard to make new friends. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Difficulty_Remembering_Birth_Dates | ||||
| PX120901490000 | I am not very good at remembering people's more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Difficulty_Remembering_Phone_Numbers | ||||
| PX120901290000 | I am not very good at remembering phone numbers. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Difficulty_Understanding_Jokes | ||||
| PX120901350000 | I am often the last to understand the point more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Difficulty_Understanding_Story_Characters | ||||
| PX120901200000 | When I'm reading a story, I find it more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Difficulty_With_Conversation | ||||
| PX120901260000 | I frequently find that I don't know how to more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Difficulty_With_Phone_Conversations | ||||
| PX120901330000 | When I talk on the phone, I'm not sure when more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Difficulty_Working_Out_Intentions | ||||
| PX120901450000 | I find it difficult to work out people's more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Does_Not_Enjoy_Fiction | ||||
| PX120901210000 | I don't particularly enjoy reading fiction. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Dominate_Conversation | ||||
| PX120901180000 | When I talk, it isn't always easy for others more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Drawn_To_People | ||||
| PX120901150000 | I find myself drawn more strongly to people more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Easily_Imagine_Story_Characters | ||||
| PX120901080000 | When I'm reading a story, I can easily more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Easy_Create_Picture_Imagination | ||||
| PX120901030000 | If I try to imagine something, I find it more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Easy_To_Multitask | ||||
| PX120901320000 | I find it easy to do more than one thing at once. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Easy_To_Play_Pretend_Games | ||||
| PX120901500000 | I find it very easy to play games with more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Easy_To_Read_Facial_Expression | ||||
| PX120901360000 | I find it easy to work out what someone is more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Easy_To_Switch_After_Interruption | ||||
| PX120901370000 | If there is an interruption, I can switch more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Enjoy_Chit_Chat | ||||
| PX120901170000 | I enjoy social chit-chat. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Enjoy_Meeting_New_People | ||||
| PX120901470000 | I enjoy meeting new people. | Variable Mapping | ||
| PX120901_Enjoy_Planning_Activities | ||||
| PX120901430000 | I like to plan any activities I participate more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Enjoy_Social_Occasions | ||||
| PX120901440000 | I enjoy social occasions. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Enjoy_Spontaneity | ||||
| PX120901340000 | I enjoy doing things spontaneously. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Fascinated_By_Numbers | ||||
| PX120901190000 | I am fascinated by numbers. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Fascinated_Dates | ||||
| PX120901090000 | I am fascinated by dates. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Good_At_Chitchat | ||||
| PX120901380000 | I am good at social chit-chat. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Good_Diplomat | ||||
| PX120901480000 | I am a good diplomat. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Go_On_About_One_Thing | ||||
| PX120901390000 | People often tell me that I keep going on more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Keep_Track_Different_Conversations | ||||
| PX120901100000 | In a social group, I can easily keep track more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Library_Over_Party | ||||
| PX120901130000 | I would rather go to a library than a party. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Make_Up_Stories_Easily | ||||
| PX120901140000 | I find making up stories easy. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Notice_Details | ||||
| PX120901120000 | I tend to notice details that others do not. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Notice_License_Plates | ||||
| PX120901060000 | I usually notice car number plates or more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Notice_Patterns | ||||
| PX120901230000 | I notice patterns in things all the time. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Notice_Small_Changes | ||||
| PX120901300000 | I don't usually notice small changes in a more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Notice_Small_Sounds | ||||
| PX120901050000 | I often notice small sounds when others do not. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_People_Call_Me_Impolite | ||||
| PX120901070000 | Other people frequently tell me that what more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Prefer_Do_Things_Same_Way | ||||
| PX120901020000 | I prefer to do things the same way over and more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Prefer_Do_Things_With_Others | ||||
| PX120901010000 | I prefer to do things with others rather more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Pretend_With_Other_Children | ||||
| PX120901400000 | When I was young, I used to enjoy playing more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Read_Between_Conversation_Lines | ||||
| PX120901270000 | I find it easy to read between the lines more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Social_Situations_Easy | ||||
| PX120901110000 | I find social situations easy. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Strongly_Absorbed | ||||
| PX120901040000 | I frequently get so strongly absorbed in one more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Strong_Interests | ||||
| PX120901160000 | I tend to have very strong interests which I more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Tell_If_Boring_Others | ||||
| PX120901310000 | I know how to tell if someone listening to more | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Theatre_Over_Museum | ||||
| PX120901240000 | I would rather go to the theatre than a museum. | N/A | ||
| PX120901_Whole_Picture_Over_Details | ||||
| PX120901280000 | I usually concentrate more on the whole more | N/A | ||
Measure Name
Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Release Date
May 12, 2010
Definition
A questionnaire to assess autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a group of developmental problems that includes autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Rett syndrome, and the category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified. ASD is characterized by a lack of social interaction, difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior (APA, 2000).
Purpose
This measure is used to screen an individual for the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that between 1 in 80 and 1 in 240 children, with an average of 1 in 110 children, in the United States have an ASD (CDC, 2009). Autism displays a familial pattern because first-order relatives of those with ASD are at greater risk for autism and other developmental problems than the general population (APA, 2000).
Keywords
Psychiatric, Asperger’s syndrome, social impairment, repetitive behavior, Rett syndrome, communication disability
Measure Protocols
| Protocol ID | Protocol Name |
|---|---|
| 120901 | Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders - Adult |
| 120902 | Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders - Adolescent |
| 120903 | Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders - Child |
Publications
There are no publications listed for this protocol.