Research article summary (published 28 Mar 2007):

Stability and change of IQ scores in preschool children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder.

Full Abstract

AIM: To investigate cognitive development in preschool-age children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD; N = 39) compared with that of children diagnosed with mental retardation (MR; N = 14) and normally developing children (NC; N = 36). METHOD: In a prospective longitudinal study, cognitive development was tested at age 24 months (T1; SD = 6 months) and 43 months (T2; SD = 5). RESULTS: Group IQ scores were stable between T1 and T2 as evidenced by high correlations (r = .81, P < .01) and consistency of average group scores. At the same time however, about a third of children with ASD showed an increase of cognitive scores of 15 points or more. This increase of IQ was correlated with lower scores at the early screening of autistic traits (ESAT) at T1, higher IQ level at T2 and higher expressive language skills at T2. Intensity of treatment was not related to IQ increase. CONCLUSIONS: High correlations between cognitive scores in preschool children with ASD suggest that measurements of cognitive function are valid at this age. We found indications of both stability and change of IQ scores. Findings suggest that some children with ASD show catch-up intellectual development. To the best of our knowledge, this increase in IQ scores cannot be attributed to treatment effects.

Author information

Author/s: Dietz, Claudine (C); Swinkels, Sophie H N (SH); Buitelaar, Jan K (JK); van Daalen, Emma (E); van Engeland, Herman (H);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. cdietz(-atsign-)umcutrecht.nl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: European child & adolescent psychiatry (Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Sep; vol 16 (issue 6) : pp 405-10

Dates: Created 2007/08/21; Completed 2007/12/17;

PMID: 17401607, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Autistic Disorder - diagnosis; epidemiology Child, Preschool Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Female Humans

Humans Male Neuropsychological Tests Prevalence Severity of Illness Index Time Factors

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Related articles

These are the most related articles currently in our database:

• Brief report: data on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales (5th ed.) in children with autism spectrum disorder. 3 Apr 2007
• The very early identification of autism: outcome to age 4 1/2-5. 30 Jul 2004
• Validity of childhood disintegrative disorder apart from autistic disorder with speech loss. 30 Jul 2004
• WISC-IV and WIAT-II profiles in children with high-functioning autism. 2 Jul 2007
• Disorganization: the forgotten executive dysfunction in high-functioning autism (HFA) spectrum disorders. 30 Dec 2004
• Repetitive behaviour in children with high functioning autism and obsessive compulsive disorder. 30 Jan 2007
• Private Speech and executive functioning among high-functioning children with autistic spectrum disorders. 3 Dec 2006
• External validity of childhood disintegrative disorder in comparison with autistic disorder. 30 May 2004
• Defining the intellectual profile of Asperger Syndrome: comparison with high-functioning autism. 30 May 2004
• Pseudo-random number generation in children with high-functioning autism and Asperger's disorder: further evidence for a dissociation in executive functioning? 30 Dec 2005

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a larger map of 100+ related articles.