Intellectual development in young children with autism spectrum disorders: A longitudinal study
Eleni Peristeri1, Maria Andreou2
1Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, School of English, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Summary
Autism intelligence profiles show variability. Socioeconomic status significantly impacts intellectual functioning changes in autistic and neurotypical children over time.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with diverse intellectual profiles.
- Longitudinal changes in intellectual functioning and influencing factors in autistic children remain understudied.
- The interplay between socioeconomic status (SES) and intellectual development in autism requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine longitudinal changes in intelligence profiles of autistic children.
- To identify distinct developmental trajectories of intellectual functioning in autism.
- To explore the influence of socioeconomic status on intellectual changes in autistic and neurotypical children.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study involving 39 autistic and 39 neurotypical children (aged 5-9 years).
- Two IQ assessments conducted over a 4-year period, measuring verbal (VIQ), performance (PIQ), and full-scale IQ (FSIQ).
- Unsupervised K-means clustering used to identify subgroups with distinct IQ change patterns; SES and autism severity analyzed.
Main Results:
- Autistic children showed varied IQ trajectories: one cluster experienced a significant PIQ drop, another improved across all quotients, and a third showed VIQ improvement (linked to higher maternal education).
- Neurotypical children primarily showed improvements in all IQ measures, with a small subgroup experiencing a PIQ decline.
- Socioeconomic status significantly correlated with IQ changes in both autistic and neurotypical groups.
Conclusions:
- Intelligence development in autism is complex and heterogeneous, defying a single developmental pathway.
- Socioeconomic diversity is a critical factor to consider when analyzing intellectual changes in autism.
- Understanding these complexities necessitates a nuanced approach that accounts for individual background characteristics.
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