Intellectual Functioning and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Can Profiles Inform Identification of Subpopulations?

Profiles of scores on measures of intellectual functioning may aid in understanding etiology and developing targeted intervention in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by providing details about specific phenotypes or subpopulations of ASD. Research investigating the relationship between ASD symptoms and intellectual functioning suggests that scores on the factors comprising global measures of intellectual functioning may be related to ASD symptoms (e.g., Joseph et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 43:807-821, 2002). Research has been limited by methodological problems, such as defining samples using unreliable subtypes of ASD and an overreliance on variable-centered methodological strategies. In the current paper, the authors provide a summary of existing research related to ASD symptoms and measures of intellectual functioning, review recent research identifying subpopulations in ASD, and provide goals for future areas of research in this area.