title: Flexibility in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD): inconsistency between neuropsychological tests and parent-based rating scales.
abstract: In this study, we compared neuropsychological tests and parent-based ratings of flexibility in a sample of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We investigated the discriminant validity of the domain-specific flexibility measures by comparison with the domain general measures, general behavioral problems, general ASD-related traits, and general intelligence. Tests and parent-based ratings of flexibility were not significantly correlated. Parent-based ratings were strongly related with the three broadband measures, whereas the discriminant validity indices of the neuropsychological tests were satisfactory. These findings suggest that parent-based ratings do not reflect the specific executive construct of flexibility, but instead reflect a broad spectrum of general child characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan-Pieter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Teunisse
authors.forename: Renée L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Roelofs
authors.forename: Elisabeth W M
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuppen
authors.forename: Joke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.forename: Hans J C
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents