Abstract
In previous studies the author and her associates found that the IQs of autistic children can be measured and are also predictive of the child's future functioning. Contrary to earlier opinion, autistic children were found to have subnormal intelligence and more signs of neurological dysfunction than subnormal controls. In this study test data were reviewed to see what subtests differentiated a group of 66 autistic children from a group of 29 children with subnormal intelligence. Results indicated that “high autistic” children were similar to subnormal children on verbal subtests. However, subnormal children were superior to autistic children in some performance areas as in ball play. Findings are interpreted to suggest that autistic children with severe visual/motor disabilities as indicated by low ball play scores may be propelled into emotional withdrawal, even though they are only moderately retarded on verbal subtests.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alpern, G. D. Measurement of “untestable” autistic children.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1967,72, 478–486.
Bayley, N.Bayley scales of infant development. New York: The Psychological Corporation, 1969.
Beery, K. E.Development test of visual-motor integration: Administration and scoring manual. Chicago: Follett Educational Corp., 1967.
Bryson, C. Q. Short-term memory and cross-modal information processing in autistic children.The Journal of Learning Disabilities, 1972,5, 81–91.
Churchill, D. W. The relation of infantile autism and early childhood schizophrenia to developmental language disorders of childhood.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1972,2, 182–197.
DeMyer, M. K., Alpern, G. D., Barton, S., DeMyer, W. E., Churchill, D. W., Hingtgen, J. N., Bryson, C. Q., Pondus, W., & Kimberlin, C. Imitation in autistic, early schizophrenic, and nonpsychotic subnormal children.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1972,2, 264–287.
DeMyer, M. K., Alpern, G. D., & Barton, S.A method for assigning IQ equivalents from WISC performances of low functioning children. Research Report No. 12. Indianapolis: Clinical Research Center for Early Childhood Schizophrenia, 1973.
DeMyer, M. K., Barton, S., DeMyer, W. E., Norton, J. A., Allen, J., & Steele, R. Prognosis in autism: A follow-up study.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1973,3, 199–246.
DeMyer, M. K., Barton, S., Alpern, G. D., Kimberlin, C., Allen, J., Yang, E., & Steele, R. The measured intelligence of autistic children.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1974,4, 42–60.
DeMyer, M. K., Barton, S., & Norton, J. A. A comparison of adaptive, verbal, and motor profiles of psychotic and nonpsychotic subnormal children.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1972,2, 359–377.
DeMyer, M. K., Churchill, D. W., Pontius, W., & Gilkey, K. M. A comparison of five diagnostic systems for childhood schizophrenia and infantile autism.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1971,1, 175–189.
DeMyer, M. K., Norton, J. A., & Barton, S. Social and adaptive behaviors of autistic children as measured in a structured psychiatric interview. In D. W. Churchill, G. D. Alpern, & M. K. DeMyer (Eds.),Infantile Autism: Proceedings of the Indiana University Colloquium. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas, 1971.
DeMyer, M. K., Pontius, W., Norton, J. A., Barton, S., Allen, J. & Steele, R. Parental practices and innate activity in normal, autistic, and brain-damaged infants.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1972,2, 49–66.
Dunn, L. M.Expanded manual, Peabody picture vocabulary test. Minneapolis: American Guidance Service, 1965.
Frankenburg, W. K., & Dodds, J. B. The Denver Development Screening Test.Journal of Pediatrics, 1967,71, 181–191.
Gesell, A., & Amatruda, C. S.Development diagnosis: Normal and abnormal child development, clinical methods and pediatric applications (2nd ed.). New York: Harper & Row, 1965.
Gesell, A. L., Halverson, M. M., & Amatruda, C.The first five years of life. New York: Harper & Bros., 1940.
Gesell, A., & Ilg, F. L. The child from five to ten. New York: Harper & Row, 1946.
Hingtgen, J. N., & Churchill, D. W. Identification of perceptual limitations in mute autistic children.Archives of General Psychiatry, 1969,21, 68–71.
Kanner, L. Autistic disturbances of affective contact.Nervous child, 1943,2, 217–250.
Stutsman, R.Mental measurement of preschool children with a guide for administering the Merrill-Palmer scale of mental tests. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1948.
Terman, L. M., & Merrill, M. A.Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, manual for the third revision, Form L-M. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1960.
Wechsler, D.Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children: Manual. New York: The Psychological Corp., 1949.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Preprinted by permission fromChild Development, Deviations, and Treatment: Evolving Structures in Understanding Children, Proceedings of the First International Kanner Colloquium, October 31–November 2, 1973, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. New York: Plenum Publishing Corporation, in press.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DeMyer, M.K. The nature of the neuropsychological disability in autistic children. J Autism Dev Disord 5, 109–128 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537928
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537928