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Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test: Proxy for Verbal IQ in Genetic Studies of Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

This study assessed the utility of a brief assessment (the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test—4th Edition; PPVT4) as a proxy for verbal IQ (VIQ) in large-scale studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In a sample of 2,420 proband with ASD, PPVT4:IQ correlations were strong. PPVT4 scores were, on average, 5.46 points higher than VIQ; 79% of children had PPVT4 scores within one standard deviation (+/−15) of their VIQ and 90% were similarly classified as having abilities above or below 70 on both measures. Distributions of PPVT4 and VIQ by de novo mutation status were highly similar. These results strongly support the utility of PPVT4 as a proxy for VIQ in large-scale ASD studies, particularly for genetic investigations.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the SSC families and principal investigators (A. Beaudet, R. Bernier, J. Constantino, E. Cook, E. Fombonne, D. Geschwind, D. Grice, A. Klin, D. Ledbetter, C. Martin, D. Martin, R. Maxim, J. Miles, O. Ousley, B. Peterson, J. Piggot, C. Saulnier, M. State, W. Stone, J. Sutcliffe, C. Walsh, E. Wijsman). We appreciate obtaining access to phenotypic data on SFARI Base. Approved researchers can obtain the SSC dataset described in this study [v15] by applying at https://base.sfari.org.

Authors’ Contributions

VHB conceived of the study, participated in the design and coordination of the study, lead analysis and interpretation of data and drafted the manuscript; KK participated in the design and coordination of the study, performed statistical analysis and drafted the manuscript; SS participated in the design of the study, interpretation of the data and drafted the manuscript; All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California San Francisco Department of Psychiatry, 1550 4th St, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA

    Kate E. Krasileva, Stephan J. Sanders & Vanessa Hus Bal

  2. STAR Center for ASD & NDD, 401 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

    Vanessa Hus Bal

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  1. Kate E. Krasileva
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Correspondence to Vanessa Hus Bal.

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Krasileva, K.E., Sanders, S.J. & Bal, V.H. Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test: Proxy for Verbal IQ in Genetic Studies of Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 47, 1073–1085 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3030-7

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