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Patterns of Nonverbal Cognitive Functioning in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

Previous research demonstrates an uneven pattern of cognitive abilities in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This study examined whether this uneven pattern exists within the nonverbal domain in young children. We hypothesized relative strengths in perceptual abilities and weaknesses in nonverbal conceptual abilities in preschoolers with ASDs compared to groups with non-autism developmental delays and typical development. Profiles were examined using the Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised. The ASD group displayed clear relative strengths in visuospatial disembedding and detail-focused processing, with relative weaknesses in abstraction and concept formation. This contrasted with patterns of roughly equivalent abilities in both comparison groups. These findings have implications for subsequent development and may represent key features of the cognitive profile of autism.

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Notes

  1. Within-groups analyses were conducted using scaled scores because no comparisons were made across groups, and therefore there was no need to correct for overall group differences in cognitive ability. Identical results were obtained, however, if within-groups analyses were conducted on the subtest deviation scores instead of the scaled scores.

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Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to all the children and families who participated in this research. We would also like to thank Julia Walling and Daniel Kamins for their assistance with data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical & Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester, Box 270266, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA

    Emily S. Kuschner & Loisa Bennetto

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA

    Kelley Yost

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  1. Emily S. Kuschner
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  2. Loisa Bennetto
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  3. Kelley Yost
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Correspondence to Loisa Bennetto.

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Kuschner, E.S., Bennetto, L. & Yost, K. Patterns of Nonverbal Cognitive Functioning in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 37, 795–807 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0209-8

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