Skip to main content
Log in

Parent, Teacher, and Self Perceptions of Psychosocial Functioning in Intellectually Gifted Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Parent, teacher, and self-perceptions of 54 high ability students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were assessed through administration of the Behavioral Assessment Scales for Children, Second Edition. Parent reports resulted in clinically elevated scores on the Atypicality, Attention Problems, Depression, Hyperactivity, Withdrawal, Activities of Daily Living, Adaptability, and Social Skills subscales, and teacher reports resulted in clinically elevated scores on the Atypicality, Depression, Withdrawal, and Adaptability subscales. Self-report scores were in the average range. Parents and teachers of adolescents reported greater adaptability and fewer symptoms of atypicality than parents and teachers of children. Psychosocial functioning appears impacted in high ability students with ASD and developmental differences in severity may exist.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asperger, H. (1944). Die “autistischen Psychopathen”. Kindesalter Archives fur Psychiatri und Nervenkrankheiten, 117, 76–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asperger, H. (1991). Autistic psychopathy in childhood. In U. Frith (Ed.), Autism and Asperger syndrome (pp. 37–92). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Assouline, S. G., Foley Nicpon, M., & Doobay, A. (2009). Profoundly gifted girls and autism spectrum disorder: A psychometric case study comparison. Gifted Child Quarterly, 53(2), 89–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnhill, G. P., Hagiwara, T., Smith Myles, B., Simpson, R. L., Brick, M. L., & Griswold, D. E. (2000). Parent, teacher, and self-report of problem and adaptive behaviors in children and adolescents with Asperger syndrome. Diagnostique, 25, 147–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauminger, N., & Kasari, C. (2000). Loneliness and friendship in high-functioning children with autism. Child Development, 71, 447–456.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bellini, S. (2004). Social skill deficits and anxiety in high-functioning adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 19, 78–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrington, S., Templeton, E., & Papinczak, T. (2003). Adolescents with Asperger syndrome and perceptions of friendship. Focus on Autism and other Developmental Disabilities, 18, 211–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foley Nicpon, M., Allmon, A., Sieck, R., & Stinson, R. D. (2009). Empirical investigation of twice-exceptionality: Where have we been and where are we going? Manuscript under review.

  • Fombonne, E. (2005). Epidemiological studies of pervasive developmental disorders. In F. R. Volkmar, R. Paul, A. Klin, & D. Cohen (Eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders (3rd ed., pp. 42–69). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillberg, C. (1984). Autistic children growing up: Problems during puberty and adolescence. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 26, 125–129.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gillberg, C., & Steffenberg, S. (1987). Outcome and prognostic factors in infantile autism and similar conditions: A population-based stud of 46 cases followed through puberty. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 17, 27–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillott, A., Furniss, F., & Walter, A. (2001). Anxiety in high-functioning children with autism. Autism, 5, 277–286.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, L. (1942). Autistic disturbances of affective contact. Nervous Child, 2, 217–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Komoto, J., Usui, S., & Hirata, J. (1984). Infantile autism and affective disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 14, 81–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., & Risi, S. (2003). Autism diagnostic observation schedule. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loveland, K. A., & Tunali-Kotoski, B. (2005). The school-age child with an autism spectrum disorder. In F. R. Volkmar, R. Paul, A. Klin, & D. Cohen (Eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders (3rd ed., pp. 247–287). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macintosh, K., & Dissanayake, C. (2006). Social skills and problem behaviours in school aged children with high-functioning autism and Asperger’s disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(8), 1065–1076.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J. A., Mundy, P. C., Vaughan Van hecke, A., & J. S., Durocher. (2006). Social attribution processes and comorbid psychiatric symptoms in children with Asperger syndrome. Autism, 10, 383–402.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nordin, V., & Gillberg, C. (1998). The long-term course of autistic disorders: Update on follow-up studies. Acta-Psychiatrica-Scandinavica, 97, 99–108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ozbayrak, K. R., Kapucu, O., Erdem, E., & Aras, T. (1991). Left occipital hypoperfusion in a case with the Asperger syndrome. Brain and Development, 13, 454–456.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (1992). Behavior assessment system for children. Circle Pines, MN: AGS Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (2004). Behavior assessment system for children (2nd ed.). Circle Pines, MN: AGS Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Le Couteur, A., & Lord, C. (2003). Autism diagnostic interview-revised. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seltzer, M. M., Krauss, M. W., Shattuck, P. T., Orsmond, G., Swe, A., & Lord, C. (2003). The symptoms of autism spectrum disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 33, 565–581.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shaked, M., & Yirmiya, N. (2003). Understanding social difficulties. In M. Prior (Ed.), Learning and behavior problems in Asperger syndrome. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shea, V., & Mesibov, G. B. (2005). Adolescents and adults with autism. In F. R. Volkmar, R. Paul, A. Klin, & D. Cohen (Eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders (3rd ed., pp. 288–311). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S., Cicchetti, D., & Balla, D. (2005). Vineland adaptive behavior scales (2nd ed.). Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1997). Wechsler adult intelligence scale (3rd ed.). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2003). Wechsler intelligence scale for children (4th ed.). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. (1981). Asperger’s syndrome: A clinical account. Psychological Medicine, 11, 115–129.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education Jacob K. Javits Program obtained by the Iowa Department of Education and the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Megan Foley Nicpon.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Foley Nicpon, M., Doobay, A.F. & Assouline, S.G. Parent, Teacher, and Self Perceptions of Psychosocial Functioning in Intellectually Gifted Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 40, 1028–1038 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-0952-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-0952-8

Keywords

Navigation