title: Preschool predictors of mathematics in first grade children with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Up till now, research evidence on the mathematical abilities of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been scarce and provided mixed results. The current study examined the predictive value of five early numerical competencies for four domains of mathematics in first grade. Thirty-three high-functioning children with ASD were followed up from preschool to first grade and compared with 54 typically developing children, as well as with normed samples in first grade. Five early numerical competencies were tested in preschool (5-6 years): verbal subitizing, counting, magnitude comparison, estimation, and arithmetic operations. Four domains of mathematics were used as outcome variables in first grade (6-7 years): procedural calculation, number fact retrieval, word/language problems, and time-related competences. Children with ASD showed similar early numerical competencies at preschool age as typically developing children. Moreover, they scored average on number fact retrieval and time-related competences and higher on procedural calculation and word/language problems compared to the normed population in first grade. When predicting first grade mathematics performance in children with ASD, both verbal subitizing and counting seemed to be important to evaluate at preschool age. Verbal subitizing had a higher predictive value in children with ASD than in typically developing children. Whereas verbal subitizing was predictive for procedural calculation, number fact retrieval, and word/language problems, counting was predictive for procedural calculation and, to a lesser extent, number fact retrieval. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
authors: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Daisy.Titeca@UGent.be.
authors: Daisy
authors: D
authors: Titeca
authors: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Herbert.Roeyers@UGent.be.
authors: Herbert
authors: H
authors: Roeyers
authors: Department of Data Analysis, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Haeike.Josephy@UGent.be.
authors: Haeike
authors: H
authors: Josephy
authors: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Annelies.Ceulemans@UGent.be.
authors: Annelies
authors: A
authors: Ceulemans
authors: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Speech Therapists, Artevelde University College, Voetweg 66, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Annemie.Desoete@UGent.be.
authors: Annemie
authors: A
authors: Desoete
mesh_terms: D001076:Aptitude; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D060705:Dyscalculia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Early numerical competencies; First grade mathematics