title: WISC-IV profile in high-functioning autism spectrum disorders: impaired processing speed is associated with increased autism communication symptoms and decreased adaptive communication abilities.
abstract: Changes in the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children-IV (WISC-IV) may affect the IQ profile characteristic of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Moreover, the association of particular component cognitive abilities (unlike overall IQ) with symptomatology and adaptive functioning in ASD remains unclear. This archival study characterizes the WISC-IV IQ profile among 56 high-functioning (IQ > 70) children with ASD and correlates WISC-IV performance with ASD and ADHD symptomatology and adaptive functioning. The ASD WISC-IV profile included strengths on Matrix Reasoning and Similarities, weaknesses on Comprehension (which correlated negatively with social symptoms) and the subtests comprising the Processing Speed Index (Coding, Symbol Search). Processing speed task performance correlated negatively with communication symptoms and positively with communication abilities, indicating its importance to functional outcomes in ASD.
authors.affiliation: Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Rafael E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Oliveras-Rentas
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kenworthy
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Roberson
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001076:Aptitude; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving; D012919:Social Behavior; D014888:Wechsler Scales