Abstract
Autism is a developmental disorder marked by impairments in socialization, communication, and perseverative behavior and is associated with cognitive impairment and deficits in adaptive functioning. Research has consistently demonstrated that children with autism have deficits in adaptive functioning more severe than their cognitive deficits. This study investigates the correlates and predictors of adaptive functioning as measured by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales in high- and low-functioning children with autism and their age and nonverbal IQ matched controls. Thirty-five 9-year-old children with high-functioning autism (HAD) were compared with 31 age-matched children with developmental language disorder (DLD), and 40 9-year-old children with low-functioning autism (LAD) were compared with 17 age-matched children with low IQ on adaptive functioning, IQ, autistic symptomology, and tests of language and verbal memory. Results indicate that both groups with autism were significantly impaired compared to their matched controls on Socialization and Daily Living, but not Communication and that these impairments were more pronounced in the HAD group than in the LAD group. Adaptive behavior was strongly correlated with autistic symptomology only in the HAD group. Regression analyses indicated that IQ was strongly predictive of adaptive behavior in both low-functioning groups, but tests of language and verbal memory predicted adaptive behavior in the higher functioning groups. Results suggest that IQ may act as a limiting factor for lower functioning children but higher functioning children are impaired by specific deficits, including autistic symptomology and impaired language and verbal memory.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Bacon, A., Fein, D., Morris, R., Waterhouse, L., & Allen, D. (1998). The response of autistic children to the distress of others. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 28, 129-142.
Carpentieri, S., & Morgan, S. (1996). Adaptive and intellectual functioning in autistic and non-autistic retarded children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 28, 611-620.
Delis, D. C., Kramer, J. H., Kaplan, E., & Ober, B. A. (1987). California Verbal Learning Test. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corp.
DiSmoni, F. (1978). The Token Test for Children. Allen TX: DLM Teaching Resources.
Dunn, L. M., & Dunn, L. M. (1981). Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test Revised. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
Freeman, B. J., Rahbar, B., Ritvo, E., Bice, T., Yokota, A., & Ritvo, R. (1991). The stability of cognitive and behavioral parameters in autism: A twelve-year prospective study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 479-482.
Freeman, B. J., Ritvo, E., Yokota, A., Childs, J., & Pollard, J. (1988). WISC-R and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale scores in autistic children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 27, 428-429.
Gardner, M. F. (1983). Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test. Novata, CA: Academic Therapy Publications.
Hauck, M., Fein, D., Waterhouse, L., & Feinstein, C. (1995). Social initiations by autistic children to adults and other children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 25, 579-595.
Hedrick, D. L., Prather, E. M., & Tobin, A. R. (1984). Sequenced Inventory of Communication Development (rev. ed.). Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.
Hollingshead, A. B. (1975). Four Factor Index of Social Status. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Hresko, W. P., Reid, D. K., & Hammill, D. D. (1981). The Test of Early Language Development. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
Liss, M., Fein, D., Robins, D., & Waterhouse, L. (1998). Cognitive estimation in individuals with pervasive developmental disorders. Paper presented at The International Neuropsychological Society, Waikiki, Hawaii.
Larsen, S. C., & Hammill, D. D. (1986). Test of Written Spelling-Z. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
Loveland, K., & Kelley, M. (1991). Development of adaptive behavior in preschoolers with autism or Down Syndrome. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 96, 13-20.
Rodrigue, J., Morgan, S., & Geffken, G. (1991). A comparative evaluation of adaptive behavior in children and adolescents with autism, Down sundrome, and normal development. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 21, 187-196.
Rapin, I. (ed. for the Autism and Language Disorders Collaborative Project: Preschool Study Group). (1996). Preschool children with inadequate communication: Developmental language disorder, autism, low IQ (Clinics in Developmental Medicine, 139). London: Mac Keith.
Rumsey, J., Rapoport, M., & Sceery, W. (1985). Autistic children as adults: psychiatric, social, and behavioral outcomes. Journal of American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 24, 465-473.
Schatz, J., & Hamdan-Allen, G. (1995). Effects of age and IQ on adaptive behavior domains for children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 25, 51-60.
Shapiro, B., Fein, D., & Waterhouse, L. (1998, February). The relationship of social and memory functioning in autism. Presented at International Neuropsychological Society, Waikiki, Hawaii.
Sparrow, S. S., Balla, D. A., & Cicchetti, D. V. (1984). Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
Szatmari, P., Bartolucci, G., Bremner, R., & Bond, S. (1989). A follow-up study of high-functioning autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorder, 19, 213-225.
Thorndike, R. L., Hagen, E. P., & Sattler, J. M. (1986). The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (4th ed.). Chicago, IL: Riverside.
VanMeter, L., Fein, D., Morris, R., Waterhouse, L., & Allen, D. (1997). Delay versus deviance in autistic social behavior. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27, 557-569.
Venter, A., Lord, C., & Schopler, E. (1992). A follow-up study of high-functioning autistic children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 33, 489-507.
Vig, S., & Jedrysek, E. (1995). Adaptive behavior of young urban children with developmental disabilities. Mental Retardation, 33(2), 90-98.
Volkmar, F., Sparrow, S., Goudreau, D., & Cicchetti, D. (1987). Social deficits in autism: An operational approach using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26, 156-161.
Wing, L. (1985). Autistic Disorders Checklist in Children (unpublished draft of DSM-III-R). Reprinted in Rapin, I. (1996).
Woodcock, R. W. (1987). Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests-Revised. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liss, M., Harel, B., Fein, D. et al. Predictors and Correlates of Adaptive Functioning in Children with Developmental Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 31, 219–230 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010707417274
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010707417274