Adaptive Behavior Functioning in Children with Autism

Objective To investigate the relationship between intellectual functioning, symptom severity, and adaptive behavior functioning of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Methods Retrospective case records (1999 to 2013) of 523 children [Mean age 4.79y (SD 2.37)] maintained by the Pediatric Psychology Unit at the Department of Pediatrics of a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India were examined. The adaptive behavior functioning was measured by the Indian adaptation of the Vineland Social Maturity Scale. Symptom severity was assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Results The mean Social Quotient (SQ) of the sample was 62.40 (SD= 20.41). Nearly two-third (63.3%) of the ASD had SQs less than 70 and only 15% of the ASD children had SQs above 85. Adaptive behavior scores in the lower functioning ASD children were significantly higher than their Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores while for the high functioning ASD group, the SQs were significantly lower than their IQs. Multiple regression analysis revealed that IQ, age of the child, CARS score, and education of the mother accounted for 62.5% of the variance in the SQ of children with ASD (F= 198.01, P 0.000). Conclusions Adaptive behavior measures must constitute a crucial component of not only diagnostic assessment of ASD children but also as an important goal of treatment.