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Asperger's Syndrome: Evidence of an Empirical Distinction from High‐Functioning Autism
Author(s) -
Ozonoff Sally,
Rogers Sally J.,
Pennington Bruce F.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1991.tb00352.x
Subject(s) - psychology , autism , asperger syndrome , high functioning autism , developmental psychology , developmental disorder , clinical psychology , autism spectrum disorder
This study compared the neuropsychological profiles of individuals with high‐functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger's syndrome (AS). In comparison with matched controls, both groups were impaired on executive function tests. Only the HFA group demonstrated deficits in theory of mind and verbal memory, performing more poorly than both controls and AS subjects. These results suggest that: (1) HFA and AS are empirically distinguishable on measures independent of diagnostic criteria, and (2) impairment on theory of mind measures is not universally found among individuals with autistic spectrum conditions. The primacy of executive function and theory of mind deficits to autism is discussed.