High intellectual Potential and Asperger’s Syndrome leads for a differential diagnosis

International audienceThe objectives: The high intellectual potential, especially in the case of heterogeneous psychometric profile, sometimes appears associated with social interaction and communication impairments suggesting possible links with the symptomatology of Asperger's syndrome. Our aim was to conduct a comparative study in order to better understand the possible differences between HPI groups and the clinical proximity between some form of HIP and Asperger syndrome.Methods: 62 children aged 7 years 7 months to 15 years 11 months were recruited for this research. Among children with high potential (I.Q ≥ 130), we have established a group with a homogeneous profile (HO/I.Q) and a group with a heterogeneous profile (HE/I.Q). The heterogeneous profile was defined by a difference of at least 23 points between the higher and the lower score at factorial indices of the Wechsler scale. Children diagnosed with an Asperger syndrome (and a high potential) and a control group were also recruited. It was administrated to each subject of the four groups: the Empathizing Quotient (EQ) test, the Autism spectrum Quotient (AQ) test, and the Multiscore Depression Inventory for Children.Results: Compared to the control and the HO/IQ group, the HE/I.Q group had a higher mean score to the AQ test and more difficulties in communication and social abilities. Moreover, among the high-potential children, some had a score ≥ 30 on the AQ test and performed similarly to children with Asperger syndrome (and high potential) on the empathy test, social and communication subscales. It is therefore possible that some high-potential children in our study have undiagnosed Asperger syndrome. Conclusion: A high intellectual potential seems to correspond to different functional profiles, one of which could share characteristics with ASD. Our results could provide indicators for making a differential diagnosis between HIP group and people with Asperger syndrome associated with HIP