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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Executive function in preschoolers with autism: evidence consistent with a secondary deficit
Benjamin E Yerys1, Susan L Hepburn, Bruce F Pennington
1Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 S. Race Street, Denver, CO 80208, USA. byerys@nova.psy.du.edu
Abstract:
Recent research on executive function (EF) deficits in autism has led investigators to conclude that EF deficits are secondary to the disorder. The current study has two major goals: (1) Examine whether specific EF deficits are present in the youngest autism group to date (mean=2.9 years), and (2) examine whether such deficits are secondary to autism, or act as an early non-specific cognitive risk factor for autism by comparing EF abilities of this autism group to a CA-matched typically developing group. Results from Experiment 1 suggest no specific EF deficits in autism relative to MA-matched controls, while results from Experiment 2 are consistent with the hypothesis that EF deficits may emerge as a secondary deficit in autism. Alternative hypotheses are also considered.
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