Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stability and Change in the Cognitive and Adaptive Behaviour Scores of Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We examined the stability of cognitive and adaptive behaviour standard scores in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) between diagnosis and school entry approximately age 6. IQ increased 18 points in 2-year-olds, 12 points in 3-year-olds, and 9 points in 4-year-olds (N = 281). Adaptive behaviour scores increased 4 points across age groups (N = 289). At school entry, 24 % of children met criteria for intellectual disability (cognitive and adaptive behaviour scores <70). No children with both scores ≥70 at diagnosis later met criteria for intellectual disability. Outcomes were more variable for children with initial delays in both areas (in 57 %, both scores remained <70). Findings are relevant to clinical decision-making, including specification of intellectual disability in young children with ASD.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., Text Revision). Washington, DC: Author.

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, T. A., Szatmari, P., Georgiades, K., Hanna, S., Janus, M., Georgiades, S., et al. (2014). Language impairment and early social competence in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders: a comparison of DSM-5 profiles. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 44(11), 2797–2808.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Constantino, J. N., & Gruber, C. P. (2002). The social responsiveness scale. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dietz, C., Swinkels, S. H., Buitelaar, J. K., Van Daalen, E., & Van Engeland, H. (2007). Stability and change of IQ scores in preschool children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 16(6), 405–410.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doll, E. A. (1965). Vineland social maturity scale. Circle Pines: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eaves, L. C., & Ho, H. H. (1996). Brief report: Stability and change in cognitive and behavioral characteristics of autism through childhood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 26(5), 557–569.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eaves, L. C., & Ho, H. H. (2004). The very early identification of autism: Outcome to age 41/2–5. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34(4), 367–378.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gabriels, R. L., Ivers, B. J., Hill, D. E., Agnew, J. A., & McNeill, J. (2007). Stability of adaptive behaviors in middle-school children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 1(4), 291–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goin-Kochel, R. P., Peters, S. U., & Treadwell-Deering, D. (2008). Parental reports on the prevalence of co-occurring intellectual disability among children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2(3), 546–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J. A., & Ozonoff, S. (Eds.). (2008). Assessment of autism spectrum disorders. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedvall, Å., Westerlund, J., Fernell, E., Holm, A., Gillberg, C., & Billstedt, E. (2014). Autism and developmental profiles in preschoolers: Stability and change over time. Acta Paediatrica, 103(2), 174–181.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, C. P., & Myers, S. M. (2007). Identification and evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 120(5), 1183–1215.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jónsdóttir, S. L., Saemundsen, E., Ásmundsdóttir, G., Hjartardóttir, S., Ásgeirsdóttir, B. B., Smáradóttir, H. H., & Smári, J. (2007). Follow-up of children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders: Stability and change during the preschool years. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(7), 1361–1374.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, R. M., Tager-Flusberg, H., & Lord, C. (2002). Cognitive profiles and social-communicative functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 43(6), 807–821.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kamphaus, R. W. (1993). Clinical assessment of children’s intelligence: A handbook for professional practice. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanne, S. M., Gerber, A. J., Quirmbach, L. M., Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., & Saulnier, C. A. (2011). The role of adaptive behavior in autism spectrum disorders: Implications for functional outcome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(8), 1007–1018.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Limperopoulos, C., Majnemer, A., Steinbach, C. L., & Shevell, M. I. (2006). Equivalence reliability of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale between in-person and telephone administration. Physical & occupational therapy in pediatrics, 26(1–2), 115–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., & Risi, S. (2002). ADOS: The autism diagnostic observation scale. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., & Schopler, E. (1989a). The role of age at assessment, developmental level, and test in the stability of intelligence scores in young autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 19(4), 483–499.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., & Schopler, E. (1989b). Stability of assessment results of autistic and non-autistic language-impaired children from preschool years to early school age. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 30(4), 575–590.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Magiati, I., Moss, J., Charman, T., & Howlin, P. (2011). Patterns of change in children with autism spectrum disorders who received community based comprehensive interventions in their pre-school years: A seven year follow-up study. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(3), 1016–1027.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordin, V., & Gillberg, C. (1998). The long-term course of autistic disorders: Update on follow-up studies. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 97(2), 99–108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, A., Flanagan, H. E., Dunn Geier, J. D., & Freeman, N. L. (2009). Brief report: The Vineland adaptive behavior scales in young children with autism spectrum disorders at different cognitive levels. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(7), 1066–1078.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rapin, I. (2003). Value and limitations of preschool cognitive tests, with an emphasis on longitudinal study of children on the autistic spectrum. Brain and Development, 25(8), 546–548.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ray-Subramanian, C. E., Huai, N., & Weismer, S. (2011). Brief report: Adaptive behavior and cognitive skills for toddlers on the autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 679–684.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reichow, B., & Wolery, M. (2009). Comprehensive synthesis of early intensive behavioral interventions for young children with autism based on the UCLA young autism project model. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 39(1), 23–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rivard, M., Terroux, A., Mercier, C., & Parent-Boursier, C. (2015). Indicators of intellectual disabilities in young children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(1), 127–137.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roid, G. H., & Sampers, J. L. (2004). Merrill-Palmer-Revised scales of development. Wood Dale, IL: Stoelting Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., LeCouteur, A., & Lord, C. (2003). ADI-R: The autism diagnostic interview-revised. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigman, M., & McGovern, C. W. (2005). Improvement in cognitive and language skills from preschool to adolescence in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35(1), 15–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S. S., Balla, D. A., & Cicchetti, D. V. (1984). Vineland adaptive behavior scales. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S.S., Cicchetti, D.V., & Balla, D.A. (2005). Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales: Second edition. Livonia, MN: Pearson Assessments.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, M. C., Fein, D. A., Dunn, M., Allen, D., Waterhouse, L. H., Feinstein, C., & Rapin, I. (2000). Subgroups of children with autism by cluster analysis: A longitudinal examination. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39(3), 346–352.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Szatmari, P., Georgiades, S., Duku, E., Bennett, T. A., Bryson, S., Fombonne, E., Thompson, A., et al. (2015). Developmental trajectories of symptom severity and adaptive functioning in an inception cohort of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder. JAMA psychiatry, 72(3), 276–283.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, L. M., Stone, W. L., Pozdol, S. L., & Coonrod, E. E. (2006). Follow-up of children with autism spectrum disorders from age 2 to age 9. Autism, 10(3), 243–265.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2002). WPPSI-III administration and scoring manual. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IWK Health Centre, 5980 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, Canada

    Helen E. Flanagan, Isabel M. Smith & Susan Bryson

  2. Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Isabel M. Smith & Susan Bryson

  3. University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Tracy Vaillancourt

  4. Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Eric Duku, Teresa Bennett & Stelios Georgiades

  5. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Peter Szatmari

  6. Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Eric Fombonne

  7. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Pat Mirenda

  8. University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Wendy Roberts

  9. University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Joanne Volden & Lonnie Zwaigenbaum

  10. Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Charlotte Waddell

  11. McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Mayada Elsabbagh

Authors
  1. Helen E. Flanagan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Isabel M. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tracy Vaillancourt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eric Duku
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Peter Szatmari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Susan Bryson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Eric Fombonne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Pat Mirenda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Wendy Roberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Joanne Volden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Charlotte Waddell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Teresa Bennett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Mayada Elsabbagh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Stelios Georgiades
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helen E. Flanagan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Flanagan, H.E., Smith, I.M., Vaillancourt, T. et al. Stability and Change in the Cognitive and Adaptive Behaviour Scores of Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 2691–2703 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2433-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2433-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation