A quarterly publication of the Autism Research Institute
Summer, 2018 | Number 3, Volume 32
Many individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are obtaining driver’s licenses, and a new study indicates that while they take longer than neurotypical peers to master driving skills, they eventually perform equally well.
Kristina Patrick and colleagues compared 50 participants with ASD, and 50 matched neurotypical peers who underwent a driving assessment using a virtual-reality simulator that included increasingly complex demands. The researchers measured differences in mean speed as well as speed and lane variability, factoring in both an ASD diagnosis and driving experience.
They report, “Young adults with ASD demonstrated increased variability in speed and lane positioning compared with controls, even during low-demand tasks. When driving demands became more complex, group differences were moderated by driving experience such that licensed drivers with ASD drove similarly to typically developing licensed drivers for most tasks, whereas unlicensed drivers with ASD had more difficulty with speed and lane management than typically developing drivers.”
The researchers conclude that individuals with autism may benefit from a “slow and gradual” approach to driver training.
“Driving comparisons between young adults with autism spectrum disorder and typical development,” Kristina E. Patrick, Felicia Hurewitz, Mark D. McCurdy, Frederic Taylor Agate, Brian P. Daly, Reem A. Tarazi, Douglas L. Chute, and Maria T. Schultheis, Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, May 18, 2018 (epub prior to print version). Address: Kristina E. Patrick, Department of Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, [email protected].
