The taxonomy and course of childhood autism

The hypothesis that prognosis in autism would vary across subgroups was explored through cluster analysis of 52 cases. Four clusters related mainly to presence or absence of mutism, speech pathology, and lack of social responsiveness. Children who were mute and socially unresponsive on admission had particularly poor outcomes at follow-up 4.5 yr. later. For a third of the 35 subject followed, the Vineland Social Quotients (mean 46.0 for all subjects) had declined.