Quality of Communication Life in Adolescents With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome: A Feasibility Study

Purpose This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of using the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Quality of Communication Life Scale (QCL; Paul et al., 2004) for a group of individuals with developmental communication disorders—adolescents with high-functioning autism/Asperger syndrome (HFA/AS). Perceptions of quality of communication life (QoCL) have not been studied in this group and are important for intervention planning. Method Fourteen adolescents with HFA/AS and 15 typically developing peers rated their QoCL using the QCL. Mothers of study participants also rated their children’s QoCL. It was hypothesized that the adolescents with HFA/AS would rate their QoCL less positively than their peers and more positively than their mothers. Results The QoCL ratings of adolescents with HFA/AS were significantly lower than those of their peers but were generally positive. Self-ratings for the HFA/AS group were somewhat higher than parent ratings. Conclusion The results of this study prov...