Autism spectrum disorder during the adolescent years

Includes bibliographical references (pages 31-35)The purpose of this study was to test whether poor verbal intelligence leads to aggression in adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Research studies have supported that deficits in verbal intelligence are often seen in highly aggressive individuals. However, these studies do not usually include individuals with ASD in their sample. The present study assessed these variables in teens diagnosed with ASD by utilizing the WASI and the BASC-2. Results indicated that poor verbal ability was associated with greater amounts of aggression. Additionally, anxiety being one of the most debilitating symptom with high prevalence rates within this population was also investigated. Results demonstrated that cognitive ability as represented by FSIQ scores were positively correlated with parent-reported anxiety scores. However, a negative relationship existed between FSIQ scores and self-reported anxiety scores. Anxiety scores were also correlated with parent reported functional communication scores from the BASC-2. While parents perceived teens with good communication skills as less anxious, teens with effective communication skills reported deeper feelings of anxiety. These findings highlight the discrepancies that exist in utilizing informant-based measures and self-reported surveys. Overall, this study adds knowledge on factors that may be exacerbating feelings of anxiety and aggression in adolescents with ASD