New Australian Research into Autism and Asperger's Disorder

Mar 23 2004

Researchers at Sydney University are recruiting volunteers for an investigation that will help improve our understanding of young people with High Functioning Autism and Asperger's Disorder.

The work carried out by the team from the University's Centre for Behavioural Sciences will take the form of two interrelated studies. The first of these is on self-understanding and theory of the mind, the second study is on empathy and behavioural and emotional problems.

Autism Spectrum Disorders are lifelong disabilities that affect the way a person communicates and relates to other people and the world around them. People affected typically display major impairments in social interaction, communication, restricted interests and repetitive behaviours.

Individuals with high functioning autism tend to have a much higher level of behavioural and emotional problems. Recent studies have estimated that more than 40,000 people in NSW alone have an autism spectrum disorder. With a better understanding of High Functioning Autism, Psychologists will be able to develop more effective intervention programs to enable these individuals to live more independently in our community.

Fiona Martin and Katherine Schmidhofer, who are registered Psychologists and researchers, will work along with their supervisor Associate Professor Susan Hayes collecting the data over 6 months. The research team is currently recruiting three types of participants for the two studies: Individuals aged between 9-18 years with either High Functioning Autism or Asperger's Disorder, and a control group of adolescents without an autism spectrum disorder aged between 9-18 years old.

Sydney University's Ethics Committee and The Autism Association of NSW Ethics Committee have approved the studies, and those children who take part will receive an up-to-date psychological assessment including IQ, adaptive behaviour and verbal ability assessment.