title: Differences in adaptive functioning among people with autism or mental retardation.
abstract: This report describes differences in motoric and instrumental activity of daily living skills (MADLs and IADLs) between 1,442 people with autism and 24,048 people with mental retardation, using data from an adaptive behavior measure. Comparisons were made using groups defined by age (5-12, 13-21, and 21-35 years) and intellectual level. Diagnoses of record were confirmed through group analyses of rates of problem behaviors consistent with autism and comparison to an independent data base. Findings suggest that at ages 5-12 the skills of children with autism are more developed than those of children with mental retardation matched by age and intellectual level. However, in the older groups these differences diminish, and with increasing age (21-35 years) more developed instrumental skills are observed for people with mental retardation.
authors.affiliation: State of New York Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Planning Unit, Albany 12229-1000.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Ackerman
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D012931:Social Environment