Abstract and Figures
Previous studies have identified areas of cognitive weakness in children diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (AS). However, there are few studies on people with AS diagnosed during adulthood, comparing their cognitive profile to typical adults. In this study, we have compared cognitive profile in 16 adults with AS and 16 adults with typical development. The new WAIS-IV was used to examine cognitive functioning of participants. Our results showed AS group had significant impairments on Processing Speed Index. At the subscale level, a weakness was highlighted in Symbol Search. Furthermore, a process score analysis revealed working memory impairment on the Sequencing condition of Digit Span subtest. Clinical applications of these findings are discussed in the light of scientific literature.

Abstract
Changes in the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children-IV (WISC-IV) may affect the IQ profile characteristic of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Moreover, the association of particular component cognitive abilities (unlike overall IQ) with symptomatology and adaptive functioning in ASD remains unclear. This archival study characterizes the WISC-IV IQ profile among 51 high-functioning (IQ>70) children with ASD and correlates WISC-IV performance with ASD and ADHD symptomatology and adaptive functioning. The ASD WISC-IV profile included strengths on Matrix Reasoning and Similarities, weaknesses on Comprehension (which correlated negatively with social symptoms) and the subtests comprising the Processing Speed Index (Coding, Symbol Search). Processing speed task performance correlated negatively with communication symptoms and positively with communication abilities, indicating its importance to functional outcomes in ASD.

Autism & Aspergerförbundet skrev:Kognitiva begränsningar
En stor del av forskningen har fokuserat på hur personer med autism tar emot och bearbetar information och intryck från omvärlden, vad vi kallar kognitiva förmågor. Även om svårigheterna vid Aspergers syndrom inte är lika stora som vid autism, antar man att avvikelserna beror på brister i närliggande kognitiva funktioner.

Hos personer med autism och Aspergers syndrom är det tydligt att flera viktiga områden påverkas av brister i de kognitiva förmågorna; Theory of mind, central koherens, exekutiva funktioner, minne och begåvning.

Abstract
This study was designed to examine the developmental and cognitive correlates of theory of mind (ToM) and emotion recognition ability in children with autism (N= 20), with pervasive developmental disorder‐not otherwise specified (PDD‐NOS) (N= 20), and in psychiatric control children (N= 20). The diagnostic groups were person‐to‐person matched on age and verbal IQ. The age of the children was between 8 and 18 years; their Full Scale IQ was at least 65. The test battery included tasks for the matching and the context recognition of emotional expressions, and a set of first‐ and second‐order ToM tasks. The relationships between composite domain scores and the subjects' age, Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, verbal memory, visual memory, and gender were examined in bivariate and multivariate analyses. Further, the subjects who reliably and consistently passed the tasks of a domain and those who could not were compared on developmental and cognitive characteristics. Overall, the results of the various analyses converged and indicated that verbal memory, Performance IQ, age and gender were the best predictors of social cognitive ability.

Petrosian skrev:

Abstract
This study was designed to examine the developmental and cognitive correlates of theory of mind (ToM) and emotion recognition ability in children with autism (N= 20), with pervasive developmental disorder‐not otherwise specified (PDD‐NOS) (N= 20), and in psychiatric control children (N= 20). The diagnostic groups were person‐to‐person matched on age and verbal IQ. The age of the children was between 8 and 18 years; their Full Scale IQ was at least 65. The test battery included tasks for the matching and the context recognition of emotional expressions, and a set of first‐ and second‐order ToM tasks. The relationships between composite domain scores and the subjects' age, Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, verbal memory, visual memory, and gender were examined in bivariate and multivariate analyses. Further, the subjects who reliably and consistently passed the tasks of a domain and those who could not were compared on developmental and cognitive characteristics. Overall, the results of the various analyses converged and indicated that verbal memory, Performance IQ, age and gender were the best predictors of social cognitive ability.

https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/d ... 7610.00505

Det verkar faktiskt som att en dålig Theory of Mind är associerat med nedsatt intellekt.