VERBAL PROBLEM-SOLVING IN HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS

The verbal problem-solving and abstract reasoning ability of 25 high-f unctioning autistic individuals ages 11 to 41 was compared with normal controls individually matched on age, gender race, IQ, and educationa l level. The Twenty Questions Procedure was administered using a grid of 42 common objects. Time to complete the task, number of correct sol utions, and number and type of questions asked were analyzed. Results indicated that controls were more often successful in achieving soluti ons, and in formulating constraint seeking questions that conceptually grouped ordered, and sorted the objects. In contrast, the autistics r elied primarily on guessing. Findings are consistent with prior studie s reporting a core deficit in autism involving abstract reasoning abil ity.