Table 3.

Core clinical features obtained from ASAS

ASAS domains	AS (n = 80)		HFA (n = 70)		Differences AS-HFA (95% CI)	Raw p value	Adjusted p value
	n	%	n	%
Social emotional abilities
Unawareness of the unwritten rules of social play	48	60.0	48	68.6	− 8.5% (− 25.2 to 8%)	0.309	0.997
Avoid social contact	29	36.3	35	50.0	− 13.7% (− 30.8 to 3.3%)	0.1	0.781
Excessive amount of reassurance	60	75.0	59	84.3	− 9.3% (− 23.4 to 4.8%)	0.225	0.972
Not interested in competitive sports and activities	28	35.0	30	42.9	− 7.9% (− 24.8 to 9.1%)	0.401	1
Communication skills
Literal interpretation of comments	23	28.8	35	50.0	− 19% (− 35.9 to − 2.1%)	0.0114	0.0431
Unusual tone of voice	57	71.3	47	67.1	4.2% (− 12.1 to 20.5%)	0.5995	1
Uninterested in other side of the conversation	56	70.0	43	61.4	9.1% (− 7.5 to 25.7%)	0.3024	0.996
Less eye contact when in a conversation	40	50.0	42	60.0	− 11.2% (− 28.6 to 6.2%)	0.2516	0.988
Over-precise or pedantic speech	45	56.3	21	30.0	32.2% (3.6–38.9%)	0.0017	0.0112
Cognitive skills
Exceptional long-term memory for events/facts	58	72.5	37	52.9	10.5% (− 6.9 to 28%)	0.0172	0.0511
Specific interests
Fascinated by a particular topic	63	78.8	47	67.1	12.9% (− 3.4 to 29.2%)	0.1389	0.876
To be unduly upset by changes in routine	53	66.3	49	70.0	− 3.2% (− 20.4 to 14.1%)	0.7261	1
To develop routines/rituals	40	50.0	38	54.3	− 6.3% (− 24.7 to 12%)	0.6263	1
Movement skills
Poor motor coordination	50	62.5	44	62.9	− 5.2% (− 22.4 to 12.1%)	1	1
Other characteristics
Unusual fear/distress due to light touch on skin or scalp	25	31.3	25	35.7	− 4.7% (− 21.8 to 12.3%)	0.605	1
Unusual fear/distress due to unexpected noises	45	56.3	32	45.7	5.7% (− 12.9 to 24.5%)	0.2518	0.99
A tendency to flap or rock when excited/distressed	38	47.5	39	55.7	− 6.8% (− 24.8 to 11.3%)	0.3308	1
Late in acquiring speech	26	32.5	39	55.7	− 23.2% (− 40.1 to − 6.4%)	0.0051	0.0234

AS Asperger syndrome, HFA high functioning autism, CI confidence interval