[The German Competence Analysis Questionnaire (KANN): Autism-spectrum-disorders and/or ADHD Compared]

The German Competence Analysis Questionnaire (KANN): Autism-spectrum-disorders and/or ADHD Compared. Due to the frequent comorbidity of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) the investigation of similarities and differences between these two syndromes has been the focus of research in recent years. The main objective of the present paper is to compare the three clinical groups "ASD", "ADHD" and "ASD+ADHD" as well as a control group on the basis of competencies relevant to everyday and social life by using the German Competence Analysis Questionnaire (Kompetenzanalyseverfahren, KANN). The KANN is an external assessment tool used to determine observable personal resources (competencies) in children and adolescents. A total of n = 205 children and adolescents under the care of child and youth welfare services are analyzed. The results show that the clinical group "ADHD" is superior to the groups "ASD" (in this case statistically significant) and "ASD+ADHD" at the KANN-scale "Leisure Behavior & Peer Groups" and "Independence in Everyday Life". The similar KANN-profiles of the two autistic groups do not support - contrary to the additionally collected data of behavior disorders (CBCL/4-18) - the hypothesis of an additive symptom effect within the meaning of the loss of competencies for the combined diagnoses group "ASD+ADHD". Furthermore, the ability of the KANN scales to differentiate between a clinical and a non-clinical child and youth welfare group underlines the validity of the KANN.