Preschool children with autism spectrum disorders in Taiwan: follow-up of cognitive assessment to early school age.
In this study, we longitudinally followed into childhood a cohort of preschool children, initially diagnosed as autistic or non-autistic with developmental delay, to evaluate the stability of cognitive assessments performed during the preschool period. The consistency in group means and intra-individual stability of developmental quotients (DQ) and non-verbal intelligence quotients (IQs) were compared for these two groups, which were matched by chronological age, initial non-verbal IQ/DQs, initial test given, and length of follow-up interval. The case group comprised 16 autistic children with average age at initial assessment of 3 years 8 months. The control group comprised 16 non-autistic developmental delayed children with average age at initial assessment of 3 years 11 months. Mean DQ/non-verbal IQ at initial assessment was 73.9+/-23.9 for the case group and 80.3+/-23.2 for the control group. ANOVA yielded no significant effect of time or time x diagnosis interaction (F=0.183, P=0.675). The absolute difference in scores and group means were equivalent for both groups of children, with no difference in patterns of change. Correlations between DQ/non-verbal IQs at initial assessment and follow-up were significant and high for the two groups (autistic group: r=0.87; control: r=0.77). Intellectual functioning can be a valid measure in Taiwanese preschool children with autism, and has an equivalent meaning for children with autism and for non-autistic children with developmental delay. Though the follow-up period is too short for definite prognostic conclusions to be drawn, we think that non-verbal intelligence should be an essential assessment for preschool oriental autistic children so that sound expectation and treatment plan can be made.
Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, 482 Shan-Ming Rd, Hsiao-Kang District, Kaohsiung, 812 Taiwan, ROC.
Pinchen
P
Yang
Yuh-Jyh
YJ
Jong
Hsiu-Yi
HY
Hsu
Cheng-Sheng
CS
Chen
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013624:Taiwan