[Autism spectrum disorder: a functional approach to development]

Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit diverse functioning and share challenges in social communication and repetitive behaviors. Diagnostic classifications do not fully capture their daily strengths and limitations, making functional assessments essential. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) highlights activities and participation as fundamental aspects to describe health conditions. TEA-CIFunciona, an ICF based tool, standardizes functional assessment and defines intervention goals for children with ASD in Argentina. This study aims to: 1) describe the functioning of children with ASD across age-based groups and 2) compare functional needs and intervention goals within each subgroup.

TEA-CIFunciona was administered in follow-up consultations of children under 16 years of age with a confirmed ASD diagnosis, from 2019 to October 2024.

The functional profile of a sample of 497 children and adolescents was established. Functional categories (activities, participation and contextual factors) were compared between two age subgroups.

TEA-CIFunciona facilitated the functional assessment, the systematization of data collection necessary to adapt the follow-up of children and adolescents with ASD at national level. It also enabled the identification of individual and group intervention objectives.