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Cognitive Ability is Associated with Different Outcome Trajectories in Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

Variability in clinical expression and in intervention outcome has been described in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study examined progress after 1 and 2 years of intervention and compared the impact of baseline cognitive ability on outcome trajectories in 46 children (m = 25.5 months) with ASD. The entire group showed a gradual decrease in autism severity and increase in verbal cognitive scores. Only the low cognitive scores (DQ <70) group significantly improved in fine motor and receptive language scores. Significant gains in adaptive skills were found only for the high cognitive scores (DQ ≥70) group after 2 years of intervention. The entire group progressed with intervention, but only children with higher cognitive levels at baseline transferred their acquired socio-communication skills into daily functioning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Communication Disorders, Ariel University, 40700, Ariel, Israel

    Esther Ben-Itzchak

  2. The Autism Center, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, 70300, Zerifin, Israel

    Esther Ben-Itzchak

  3. Department of Pediatrics, The Autism Center, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, 70300, Zerifin, Israel

    Ditza A. Zachor

  4. Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Linda R. Watson

  5. The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Ditza A. Zachor

Authors
  1. Esther Ben-Itzchak
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  2. Linda R. Watson
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  3. Ditza A. Zachor
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Correspondence to Ditza A. Zachor.

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Ben-Itzchak, E., Watson, L.R. & Zachor, D.A. Cognitive Ability is Associated with Different Outcome Trajectories in Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 44, 2221–2229 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2091-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2091-0

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