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ABAS-II Adaptive Profiles and Correlates in Samples of Children with HFASD or LFASD

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Abstract

This study was conducted to extend the research on the adaptive skills of 55 high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) and 55 children with ASD and co-occurring intellectual disability (LFASD), ages 6–12, using the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition (ABAS-II). This study examined each group’s adaptive profile, compared adaptive functioning and cognitive ability, and assessed correlates (i.e., age, IQ) of adaptive skills. Results indicated children with HFASD demonstrated cognitive strengths and adaptive deficits, while children with LFASD demonstrated adaptive strengths in the areas of social and conceptual skills, and practical skills commensurate with estimated cognitive ability. Within the HFASD sample, age significantly, negatively correlated with adaptive social ability, while IQ was not significantly correlated with adaptive behavior. Conversely, in the LFASD sample, age did not correlate with adaptive ability, although IQ was significantly related to overall adaptive ability and all domains of the ABAS-II.

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Correspondence to Christin A. McDonald.

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Funding

The research reported in this article was supported, in part, by Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences Grant R324A080136. Findings and conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding agency.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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McDonald, C.A., Lopata, C., Nasca, B.C. et al. ABAS-II Adaptive Profiles and Correlates in Samples of Children with HFASD or LFASD. J Dev Phys Disabil 28, 769–783 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-016-9508-y

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