Adaptive behavior in toddlers under two with autism spectrum disorders

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Delay (DD) are distinct neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Adaptive behavior is crucial for daily functioning in children.
• Early identification and characterization of differences are vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare adaptive behavior deficits in young children with ASD versus DD.
• To identify specific areas of adaptive functioning that differentiate ASD from DD.
• To explore correlations between adaptive behavior differences and cognitive/autistic symptom severity.

Main Methods:

• The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale was administered to 54 children with ASD (diagnosed before age 2) and 18 toddlers with DD.
• Matched subgroups of 18 ASD/DD pairs were selected based on age and developmental level.
• Correlation analyses examined relationships between Vineland scores, nonverbal ability, and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) scores.

Main Results:

• Children with ASD exhibited more significant impairments across all Vineland scales compared to the DD group.
• In closely matched ASD/DD pairs, differences were primarily observed in Receptive Communication and Daily Living skills.
• Vineland Daily Living scores correlated with nonverbal ability and ADOS total scores; Receptive Communication scores correlated with ADOS total scores.

Conclusions:

• Young children with ASD demonstrate broader adaptive behavior challenges than peers with DD.
• Receptive communication and daily living skills are key areas distinguishing ASD from DD in early development.
• These findings underscore the importance of assessing specific adaptive behaviors and their links to cognition and autism symptomology for clinical practice.