High-functioning children with autism were compared with two control groups on measures of anxiety and social worries. Comparison control groups consisted of children with specific language impairment (SLI) and normally developing children. Each group consisted of 15 children between the ages of 8 and 12 years and were matched for age and gender. Children with autism were found to be most anxious on both measures. High anxiety subscale scores for the autism group were separation anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. These findings are discussed within the context of theories of autism and anxiety in the general population of children. Suggestions for future research are made.

Whilst evidence of theory of mind impairments in children with autism is well established, possible impairments in children with language disorder have only recently been investigated. Children with specific language impairment aged between eight and 12 years were matched by age and gender to high functioning children with autism and normally developing peers. The theory of mind abilities of the groups were compared using the strange stories task. Both the children with specific language impairment and the children with autism gave fewer correct mental state answers than normally developing children, but whereas the children with autism gave more inappropriate mental state answers than the children who were developing normally, the children who were developing normally and the children with language disorders did not differ in this respect. These findings are discussed within the context of theory of mind issues in autism and the classification of language disorders.