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Comparison of Adaptive Functioning Measures in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder Without Intellectual Disability

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Abstract

There is limited literature examining the adaptive functioning of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study aimed to (a) document Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-3) and Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3) adaptive behavior profiles of adolescents with ASD; (b) examine the comparability of the two measures; and (c) assess potential discrepancies between IQ and adaptive behaviors. Participants included 14- to 18-year-olds with ASD without intellectual disability. Significant adaptive skills deficits were observed with most scores at least one standard deviation below the mean. Relative weaknesses were observed for social and daily living skills. The absolute magnitude of VABS-3 and ABAS-3 scores differed. There were significant discrepancies between IQ and adaptive functioning. These findings have implications for clinicians and researchers.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Defense (Grant #W81XWH-17-ARP) and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD Grant #K23HD094855-01A1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC10006, Cincinnati, OH, 45229-3039, USA

    Leanne Tamm, Haley A. Day & Amie Duncan

  2. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Leanne Tamm & Amie Duncan

  3. Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Center for ADHD, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Leanne Tamm & Haley A. Day

  4. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The Kelly O’Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Amie Duncan

Authors
  1. Leanne Tamm
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  2. Haley A. Day
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  3. Amie Duncan
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by AD and analyses were performed by HAD and LT. The first draft of the manuscript was written by LT and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Leanne Tamm.

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Tamm, L., Day, H.A. & Duncan, A. Comparison of Adaptive Functioning Measures in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder Without Intellectual Disability. J Autism Dev Disord 52, 1247–1256 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05013-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05013-9

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