RODRIGUES, Ida Janete    ASSUMPCAO JR, Francisco Baptista. Visual-perceptual and motor abilities in Asperger syndrome. Temas psicol. []. 2011, 19, 2, pp.361-377. ISSN 1413-389X.

This research aimed to verify the existence of visual-perceptual and motor alterations in patients with Asperger syndrome. A study with two groups of thirty young men aging between 12 and 30 years old was executed, and thirty of those subjects with the Asperger syndrome were diagnosed through the criteria of the DSM-IV-TR, Scale of Autism Traces, presenting QS of 70 or higher obtained through the Vineland Scales of Adaptative Behavior. The performances in the scales were statistically studied and compared with the results of the thirty subjects with normal development. Both groups were submitted to the Test of Imitation of Gestures of Bèrges & Lèzine, Piaget-Head, Bender, Cubes Test of the Wechsler scales and Social Scale of Pelotas. All the subjects were submitted to these tests in a standardized way. The selection of the subjects and application of the tests was made in schools and specialized clinical centers. The analysis of the results demonstrated significant differences and deficits in the perceptive visual-motor organization of the subjects with Asperger syndrome. The statistical analysis through the t-independent test between the two groups shows conflicting answers in the Asperger group. The standard deviation is 0,002 in total Bender and 0,007 in Cubes of the Wechsler scale. In the Head test the answers were inferior in the Asperger group and the standard deviation is 0,001. In the test of Bérges & Lèzine, the answers were below, <0,001 in relation to the "normal" subjects. In the total results the standard deviation in the t-independent test is 0,001 and displays better global performance in all the applied scales in the subjects of the control group. The results of this study indicated that the visual-perceptual and motor skills in individuals with Asperger syndrome are impaired, when compared to individuals with normal development. The symbolization and complex concept´s perception can be understood by the inability to process information due to the executive function deficit, in the central consistency and as a consequence, in the work memory.

: Asperger syndrome; Autism; Global disturbances of the development; Visual-perceptual and motor abilities.

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