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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Gepubliceerd in:

01-05-2007 | Original Paper

Patterns of Nonverbal Cognitive Functioning in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Auteurs: Emily S. Kuschner, Loisa Bennetto, Kelley Yost

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 5/2007

Abstract

Previous research demonstrates an uneven pattern of cognitive abilities in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This study examined whether this uneven pattern exists within the nonverbal domain in young children. We hypothesized relative strengths in perceptual abilities and weaknesses in nonverbal conceptual abilities in preschoolers with ASDs compared to groups with non-autism developmental delays and typical development. Profiles were examined using the Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised. The ASD group displayed clear relative strengths in visuospatial disembedding and detail-focused processing, with relative weaknesses in abstraction and concept formation. This contrasted with patterns of roughly equivalent abilities in both comparison groups. These findings have implications for subsequent development and may represent key features of the cognitive profile of autism.

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Within-groups analyses were conducted using scaled scores because no comparisons were made across groups, and therefore there was no need to correct for overall group differences in cognitive ability. Identical results were obtained, however, if within-groups analyses were conducted on the subtest deviation scores instead of the scaled scores.

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Titel: Patterns of Nonverbal Cognitive Functioning in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Auteurs: Emily S. Kuschner
Loisa Bennetto
Kelley Yost
Publicatiedatum: 01-05-2007
Uitgeverij: Kluwer Academic Publishers-Plenum Publishers
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 5/2007
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0209-8

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