The Role of Adaptive Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Implications for Functional Outcome

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 41; no. 8; pp. 1007 - 1018
• Main Authors: Kanne, Stephen M., Gerber, Andrew J., Quirmbach, Linda M., Sparrow, Sara S., Cicchetti, Domenic V., Saulnier, Celine A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.08.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adaptive behaviour; Adjustment (to Environment); Adolescent; Age; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Autistic spectrum disorders; Behavior Problems; Behavior Rating Scales; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Book publishing; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child clinical studies; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - psychology; Child, Preschool; Cognitive Ability; Developmental disorders; Evaluation Methods; Female; Humans; Infantile autism; Intelligence; Intelligence Quotient; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Age; Neuropsychological Tests; Neurosciences; Older people; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Predictor Variables; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public Health; Severity; Severity (of Disability); Social Adjustment; Social Behavior; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Young people; Youth; United States; Autism; Adaptive functioning; Autism spectrum disorder; Vineland; Human; Preschool age; Cognition; Developmental disorder; Symptomatology; Pervasive developmental disorder; School age; Adolescent; Intellectual ability; Severity score; Predictive factor; Child; Age; Intelligence quotient; Adaptive behavior
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-010-1126-4

The relationship between adaptive functioning and autism symptomatology was examined in 1,089 verbal youths with ASD examining results on Vineland-II, IQ, and measures of ASD severity. Strong positive relationships were found between Vineland subscales and IQ. Vineland Composite was negatively associated with age. IQ accounted a significant amount of the variance in overall adaptive skills (55%) beyond age and ASD severity. Individuals with ASD demonstrated significant adaptive deficits and negligible associations were found between the level of autism symptomatology and adaptive behavior. The results indicate that IQ is a strong predictor of adaptive behavior, the gap between IQ and adaptive impairments decreases in lower functioning individuals with ASD, and older individuals have a greater gap between IQ and adaptive skills.