The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

The University of Kansas is conducting a study that looks at some unique characteristics of children and youth diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS). Dr. Brenda Smith Myles is the principle investigator for this first-of-its-kind large scale study. This session will provide an overview of the results to date. The study has focused on adolescents ages 12-18 and has looked at the following characteristics: social/emotional, sensory, behavior, adaptive behavior, temperament, and cognition. In addition, the study is documenting incidents of victimization. The Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas has been conducting a study that looks at some unique characteristics of children and youth diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS). Introduced by Hans Asperger in 1944, AS is categorized as a Pervasive Developmental Disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Known general characteristics of AS are (a) deficits in social skills, (b) difficulty in nonverbal communication, (c) narrow and rigid interests and limited abstract thoughts, and (d) atypical sensory response patterns. Although public awareness of the disability has increased through the media, educators and related professionals do not have sufficient information of the disability to develop and conduct best practices for children and youth with AS. This is due, in part, to limited information (i.e., empirical attempts) on AS characteristics. Further, little is known about adolescents with AS regarding academic, behavioral, and social difficulties during their secondary school years. The majority of research in this area has been conducted by Brenda Myles, who is the principle researcher for this study.

This specific study began in the fall of 2003. It is attempting to identify general characteristics of AS in intelligence, social/emotional, sensory, and demographic areas by collecting data (N=120) of adolescents (ages 12-18) with AS using a variety of measurements. The study is looking at gender differences and differences that may exist between giftedness and non-giftedness.

At this point we have complete data on over 80 study participants and are in process on approximately 60 others, with approximately 20 waiting to begin. This session will share the data that we have collected thus far and discuss the possible implications for individuals with AS.

Content Area: Medicine and Research