A cross-sectional study of inhibitory control in young children with autism spectrum disorder

Inhibitory control (IC) ability in early childhood is associated with positive socioemotional, academic, and behavioural outcomes later in life. However, inhibitory control in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not well understood. We conducted a large, cross-sectional study comparing IC ability of young children with ASD and typical development (TD). We also sought to understand how individual differences, such as child age, sex, and verbal ability, are related to IC performance. Participants included 183 preschool-aged children with ASD (n = 63) and TD (n = 120) from a larger study on self-regulation. Children with ASD performed similarly to their peers with TD on a Stroop-like inhibition task. Age and sex differences in IC performance were observed across both developmental groups. These findings have important implications for early intervention and early childhood education.