title: Association between restricted and repetitive behaviors and nonverbal IQ in children with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: The present study explored the relationship between nonverbal IQ and restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in 830 children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The role of chronological age as a moderator of this relationship was also investigated. For many behaviors, there was a significant interaction between nonverbal IQ and chronological age, such that nonverbal IQ (NVIQ) was more strongly related to the prevalence of RRBs in older children. For the majority of such behaviors (e.g. repetitive use of objects, hand and finger mannerisms), RRB prevalence was negatively associated with NVIQ. However, the prevalence of certain behaviors (e.g. circumscribed interests) showed positive relationships with NVIQ, which provides some support for the idea of different classes of RRBs. For the severity of different RRBs, there were several significant effects for age and NVIQ, but few interactions.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center, UMACC, 111 East Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA. bishops@umich.edu
authors.forename: Somer L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richler
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lord
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001244:Association; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009633:Nonverbal Communication / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D019956:Stereotypic Movement Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology