title: Executive functioning in individuals with a history of ASDs who have achieved optimal outcomes.
abstract: Executive functioning (EF) is examined among children and adolescents once diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but who no longer meet diagnostic criteria. These individuals have average social and language skills, receive minimal school support and are considered to have achieved "optimal outcomes" (OOs). Since residual impairments in these individuals might be expected in deficits central to autism, and in developmentally advanced skills, EF was examined in 34 individuals who achieved OOs, 43 individuals with high-functioning autism (HFA), and 34 typically developing (TD) peers. Groups were matched on age (M = 13.49), gender, and nonverbal IQ (NVIQ) but differed on verbal IQ (VIQ; HFA < TD, OO). On direct assessment, all three groups demonstrated average EF; however, the OO and HFA groups exhibited more impulsivity and less efficient planning and problem-solving than the TD group, and more HFA participants exhibited below average inhibition than did OO and TD participants. Parent-report measures revealed average EF among the OO and TD groups; however, the OO group exhibited more difficulty than the TD group on set-shifting and working memory. HFA participants demonstrated more difficulty on all parent-reported EF domains, with a clinical impairment in attention-shifting. Results suggest that EF in OO appears to be within the average range, even for functions that were impaired among individuals with HFA. Despite their average performance, however, the OO and TD groups differed on measures of impulsivity, set-shifting, problem-solving, working memory, and planning, suggesting that the OO group does not have the above-average EF scores of the TD group despite their high-average IQs.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Connecticut , Storrs , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Troyb
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: Inge-Marie
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Eigsti
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tyson
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orinstein
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Autism; Executive functioning; High-functioning autism; Optimal outcome; Outcome