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Adaptive Profiles in Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders

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Abstract

We investigated the influence of specific autism spectrum disorder (ASD) deficits in learning adaptive behaviour, besides intelligence quotient (IQ). Participated 217 school-aged: ASD (N = 115), and other neurodevelopmental disorders (OND) groups (N = 102) matched by Full-Scale IQ. We compared standard scores of Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale (VABS) in communication, daily living skills, socialization and adaptive behaviour composite. Pearson-correlation analysis was performed between each domain of VABS and Full-Scale, Verbal and Performance IQ, and chronological age (CA). Results indicated that impairment in adaptive behaviour within the domain of socialization skills remains a distinctive factor of ASD versus OND, independently of intellectual disability (ID). Co-occurring ID result in further debilitating effects on overall functioning, especially in ASD. CA is negatively associated with VABS scores.

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Abbreviations

AB:

Adaptive behaviour

ABC:

Adaptive behaviour composite

ADI-R:

Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised

ADOS:

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule

ASD:

Autism spectrum disorder

ASD_ID:

ASD with ID

ASD_NID:

ASD with no ID

CA:

Chronological age

COM:

Communication

DLS:

Daily living skills

DSM-5:

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders fifth edition

F:

Female

FSIQ:

Full-scale intelligence quotient

ID:

Intellectual disability

IQ:

Intelligence quotient

M:

Male

OND:

Other neurodevelopmental disorders

OND_ID:

OND with ID

OND_NID:

OND with no ID

PIQ:

Performance intelligence quotient

SD:

Standard deviation

SOC:

Socialization

SS:

Standard scores

VABS:

Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale

VIQ:

Verbal intelligence quotient

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The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Susana Mouga & Guiomar Oliveira

  2. Unidade de Neurodesenvolvimento e Autismo do Serviço do Centro de Desenvolvimento da Criança, Pediatric Hospital, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Avenida Afonso Romão, 3000-602, Coimbra, Portugal

    Susana Mouga, Joana Almeida, Cátia Café, Frederico Duque & Guiomar Oliveira

  3. University Clinic of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Frederico Duque & Guiomar Oliveira

  4. Centro de Investigação e Formação Clínica, Pediatric Hospital, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Guiomar Oliveira

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  1. Susana Mouga
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  2. Joana Almeida
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  3. Cátia Café
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  4. Frederico Duque
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  5. Guiomar Oliveira
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Correspondence to Guiomar Oliveira.

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Mouga, S., Almeida, J., Café, C. et al. Adaptive Profiles in Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 1001–1012 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2256-x

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