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Brief Report: IQ Split Predicts Social Symptoms and Communication Abilities in High-Functioning Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

We investigated the relationship of discrepancies between VIQ and NVIQ (IQ split) to autism symptoms and adaptive behavior in a sample of high-functioning (mean FSIQ = 98.5) school-age children with autism spectrum disorders divided into three groups: discrepantly high VIQ (n = 18); discrepantly high NVIQ (n = 24); and equivalent VIQ and NVIQ (n = 36). Discrepantly high VIQ and NVIQ were associated with autism social symptoms but not communication symptoms or repetitive behaviors. Higher VIQ and NVIQ were associated with better adaptive communication but not socialization or Daily Living Skills. IQ discrepancy may be an important phenotypic marker in autism. Although better verbal abilities are associated with better functional outcomes in autism, discrepantly high VIQ in high-functioning children may also be associated with social difficulties.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Jennifer A. Silvers, Laura Case, and Anne Della Rosa for their work compiling data and the many children with ASD and their families who made this research possible. The authors also thank Alex Martin for his helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper. This research was supported in part by the Intramural Program of the NIH, National Institutes of Mental Health. This work was supported by the Studies for the Advancement of Autism Research and Treatment (STAART: NIMH U54 MH066417) for supporting data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Developmental Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, 10 Center Drive, MSC 1255 Building 10, Room 4N208, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1255, USA

    David O. Black

  2. Laboratory of Brain & Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Gregory L. Wallace

  3. Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children’s National Medical Center, Rockville, MD, USA

    Jennifer L. Sokoloff & Lauren Kenworthy

Authors
  1. David O. Black
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  2. Gregory L. Wallace
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  3. Jennifer L. Sokoloff
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  4. Lauren Kenworthy
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Correspondence to David O. Black.

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Black, D.O., Wallace, G.L., Sokoloff, J.L. et al. Brief Report: IQ Split Predicts Social Symptoms and Communication Abilities in High-Functioning Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 1613–1619 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0795-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0795-3

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