Background
Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are defined by criteria comprising impairments in
social interaction and communication. Altered visual perception is one possible and
often discussed cause of difficulties in social interaction and social communication.
Recently, Ashwin et al. suggested that enhanced ability in local visual processing in ASC was due to superior
visual acuity, but that study has been the subject of methodological criticism, placing
the findings in doubt.
Methods
The present study investigated visual acuity thresholds in 24 adults with Asperger’s
syndrome and compared their results with 25 control subjects with the 2 Meter 2000
Series Revised ETDRS Chart.
Results
The distribution of visual acuities within the two groups was highly similar, and
none of the participants had superior visual acuity.
Conclusions
Superior visual acuity in individuals with Asperger’s syndrome could not be established,
suggesting that differences in visual perception in ASC are not explained by this
factor. A continued search for explanations of superior ability in local visual processing
in persons with ASC is therefore warranted.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 02, 2011
Received in revised form:
July 12,
2011
Received in revised form:
July 29,
2011
Received:
March 17,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
