This article explores the current research literature on adult outcomes of individuals With Asperger syndrome (AS). Specific areas addressed are the characteristics associated With adulthood AS, including employment issues, comorbid mental and physical health conditions, neurological issues, possible problems With the legal system, mortality rates, and treatment. The article interWeaves the author's experiences as a parent of an adult son With AS and discusses recommendations and future directions.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abramson, L.Y., Seligman, M.E.P., & Teasdale, J.D. (1978). Learned helplessness in humans: Critique and reformulation. Journal of Abnormal Psychology , 87, 49—74.
2.
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington DC: Author.
3.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington DC: Author.
4.
Asperger, H. (1944). Autistic personality disorders in childhood. In U. Frith (Ed.), Autism and asperger syndrome (pp. 147—183). London: Cambridge University Press.
5.
Attwood, T. (2000). Strategies for improving the social integration of children with Asperger syndrome. Autism, 4, 85—100.
6.
Aylott, J. (2000a). Autism in adulthood: The concepts of identity and difference. British Journal of Nursing, 9, 851—858.
7.
Aylott, J. (2000b). Understanding children with autism: Exploding the myths. British Journal of Nursing, 9, 779—784.
8.
Barnhill, G.P. (2001). Social attributions and depression in adolescents with Asperger syndrome. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 16, 46—53.
9.
Barnhill, G.P., & Myles, B.S. (2001). Attributional style and depression in adolescents with Asperger syndrome. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions , 3, 175—201.
10.
Baron-Cohen, S. (1988). An assessment of violence in a young man with Asperger's syndrome. BritishJournal of Child Psychiatry and Psychology, 29, 351—361.
11.
Berney, T. (2004). Asperger syndrome from childhood into adulthood . Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 10, 341—351.
12.
Blackshaw, A.J., Kinderman, P., Hare, D.J., & Hatton, C. (2001). Theory of mind, causal attribution and paranoia in Asperger syndrome. Autism, 5, 147—163.
13.
Bolte, S., & Bosch, G. (2005). The long-term outcome in two females with autism spectrum disorder. Psychopathology, 38, 151—154.
14.
Ehlers, S., & Gillberg, C. (1993). The epidemiology of Asperger syndrome: A total population study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 34, 1327—1350.
15.
Engstrom, I., Ekstrom, L., & Emilsson, B. (2003). Psychological functioning in a group of Swedish adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism. Autism, 7, 99—110.
16.
Frith, U. (2004). Emmanuel Miller lecture: Confusions and controversies about Asperger syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 45, 672—686.
17.
Ghaziuddin, M., Tsai, L., & Ghaziuddin, N. (1991). Brief report: Violence in Asperger syndrome: A critique. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 21, 349—354.
18.
Ghaziuddin, M., Weidmer-Mikhail, E., & Ghaziuddin, N. (1998). Comorbidity of Asperger syndrome: A preliminary report. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 42, 279—283.
19.
Gillberg, C. (1991). Outcomes in autism and autism-like conditions . Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 375—382.
20.
Gillberg, C., & Ehlers, S. (1998). High-functioning people with autism and Asperger syndrome. In E. Schopler, G. B. Mesibov, & L. J. Kunce (Eds.), Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism? (pp. 79—106). New York: Plenum Press.
21.
Goode, S., Howlin, P., & Rutter, M. (1999). A cognitive and behavioral study of outcomes in young adults with autism. Unpublished manuscript.
22.
Goode, S., Rutter, M., & Howlin, P. (1994). A twenty-year follow-up of children with autism . Paper presented at the meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development, Amsterdam .
23.
Grandin, T. (1995). The learning styles of people with autism: An autobiography. In K. A. Quill (Ed.), Teaching children with autism: Strategies to enhance communication and socialization (pp. 33—52). New York: Delmar.
24.
Howlin, P. (2000). Outcome in adult life for more able individuals with Asperger syndrome. Autism, 4, 63—83.
25.
Howlin, P. (2003). Outcome in high-functioning adults with autism with and without early language delays: Implications for the differentiation between autism and Asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 33, 3—13.
26.
Howlin, P., Goode, S., Hutton, J., & Rutter, M. (2004). Adult outcome for children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines , 45, 212—229.
27.
Howlin, P., & Mawhood, L. (1996). An evaluation of a pilot two-year supported employment service for people with autism. London: National Autistic Society.
28.
Hurlbutt, K., & Chalmers, L. (2004). Employment and adults with Asperger syndrome. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 19, 215—222.
29.
Isager, T., Mouridsen, S.E., & Rich, B. (1999). Mortality and causes of death in pervasive developmental disorders. Autism, 3, 7—16.
30.
Jennes-Coussens, M., Magill-Evans, J., & Koning, C. (2006). The quality of life of young men with Asperger syndrome. Autism, 10, 403—414.
31.
Klin, A., & Volkmar, F.R. (2000). Treatment and intervention guidelines for individuals with Asperger syndrome. In A. Klin, F. K. Volkmar, & S. S. Sparrow (Eds.), Asperger syndrome (pp. 340—366). New York: Guilford Press.
32.
Larsen, F.W., & Mouridsen, S.E. (1997). The outcome in children with childhood autism and Asperger syndrome originally diagnosed as psychotic. A 30-year follow-up study of subjects hospitalized as children. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 6, 181— 190.
33.
Lord, C., & Venter, A. (1992). Outcome and follow-up studies of high-functioning autistic adults. In E. Schopler & G. B. Mesibov (Eds.), High functioning individuals with autism (pp. 187—200). New York : Plenum Press.
34.
Mawhood, L., & Howlin, P. (1999). The outcome of a supported employment scheme for high-functioning adults with autism or Asperger syndrome. Autism, 3, 229—254.
35.
Mawson, D., Grounds, A., & Tantam, D. (1985). Violence and Asperger's syndrome. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 566—569.
36.
National Autistic Society. (2006). Prospects support in employment. Retrieved September 30, 2006 , from http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=479&a=5651 .
37.
National Research Council. (2001). Educating children with autism. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
38.
Nesbitt, S. (2000). Why and why not? Factors influencing employment of individuals with Asperger syndrome. Autism, 4, 357—369.
39.
Newport, J. (2001). Your life is not a label! A guide to living fully with autism and Asperger's syndrome. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons.
40.
Newson, E., Dawson, M., & Everard, P. (1982). The natural history of able autistic people: Their management and functioning in a social context. Unpublished report to the Department of Health and Social Security, London. (Summary published in four parts in Communication, 19—22 [1984 —1985])
41.
Nordin, V., & Gillberg, C. (1998). The long-term course of autistic disorders: Update on follow-up studies. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 97, 99—108.
42.
Oyane, N.M.F., & Bjorvatn, B. (2005). Sleep disturbances in adolescents and young adults with autism and Asperger syndrome. Autism, 9, 83—94.
43.
Ozonoff, S., Garcia, N., Clark, E., & Lainhart, J.E. (2005). MMPI-2 personality profiles of high functioning adults with autism spectrum disorders. Assessment, 12, 85—96.
44.
Portway, S., & Johnson, B. (2003). Asperger syndrome and the children who “don't quite fit in.” Early Child Development and Care, 173, 435—443.
45.
Romoser, M. (2000). Malemployment in autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 15, 246—247.
46.
Rumsey, J.M., Rapoport, J.L., & Sceery, W.R. (1985). Autistic children as adults: Psychiatric, social, and behavioral outcomes. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 24, 465—473.
47.
Ryan, R. (1992). Treatment-resistant chronic mental illness: Is it Asperger syndrome?Hospital & Community Psychiatry , 43, 807—811.
48.
Shore, S. (2003). Beyond the wall: Personal experiences with autism and Asperger syndrome (2nd ed.). Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Publishing.
49.
Soderstrom, H., Rastam, M., & Gillberg, C. (2002). Temperament and character in adults with Asperger syndrome. Autism, 6, 287— 297.
50.
Stewart, M.E., Barnard, L., Pearson, J., Hasan, R., & O'Brien, G. (2006). Presentation of depression in autism and Asperger syndrome. Autism, 10, 103—116.
51.
Szatmari, P., Bartolucci, G., Bremner, R., Bond, S., & Rich, S. (1989). A follow-up study of high-functioning autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 19, 213—225.
52.
Tani, P., Lindberg, N., Appelberg, B., Nieminen-von Wendt, T., von Wendt, L., & Porkka-Heiskanen, T. (2006). Clinical neurological abnormalities in young adults with Asperger syndrome. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 60, 253—255.
53.
Tani, P., Lindberg, N., Nieminen-von Wendt, T., von Wendt, L., Alanko, L., Appelberg, B., et al. (2003). Insomnia is a frequent finding in adults with Asperger syndrome. BMC Psychiatry, 3. Retrieved October 11, 2006, from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/3/12
54.
Tantam, D. (1991). Asperger syndrome in adulthood. In U. Frith (Ed.), Autism and Asperger syndrome (pp. 147—183). London: Cambridge University Press.
55.
Tantam, D. (2000a). Adolescence and adulthood of individuals with Asperger syndrome. In A. Klin, F. R. Volkmar, & S. Sparrow (Eds.), Asperger syndrome (pp. 367—399). New York: Guilford Press.
56.
Tantam, D. (2000b). Psychological disorder in adolescents and adults with Asperger syndrome. Autism, 4, 47—62.
57.
Tryon, P.A., Mayes, S.D., Rhodes, R.L., & Waldo, M. (2006). Can Asperger's disorder be differentiated from autism using DSM-IV criteria?Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 21, 2—6.
58.
Tsai, L. (1996). Brief report: Comorbid psychiatric disorders of autistic disorder. Journal of Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 26, 159—163.
59.
Tsai, L. (2001). Taking the mystery out of medications in Autism/ Asperger syndromes: A guide for parents and non-medical professionals. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons.
60.
Venter, A., Lord, C., & Schopler, E. (1992). A follow-up study of high-functioning autistic children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 33, 489—507.
61.
Willey, L.H. (1999). Pretending to be normal: Living with Asperger's syndrome. London: Jessica Kingsley .
62.
Williams, D. (1998). Autism and sensing the unlost instinct. London: Jessica Kingsley.
63.
Wing, L. (1981). Asperger's syndrome: A clinical account. Psychological Medicine, 11, 115—129.
64.
Wing, L. (1996). The autism spectrum: A guide for parent and professionals . London: Constable.
65.
Wing, L. (2000). Past and future research on Asperger syndrome . In A. Klin, F. R. Volkmar, & S. Sparrow (Eds.), Asperger syndrome (pp. 418—432). New York : Guilford Press.
66.
World Health Organization. (1992). International classification of diseases and related health problems (10th rev.). Geneva, Switzerland: Author .
