title: Brief Report: Adaptive Functioning in Children with ASD, ADHD and ASD + ADHD.
abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often co-occur. Children with ASD and ADHD demonstrate deficits in adaptive functioning, yet pure and comorbid groups have not been directly compared. Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS-II) data were examined in boys with ASD (n = 17), ADHD (n = 31) and ASD + ADHD (n = 38). Results demonstrated lower socialisation and composite scores and greater discrepancy between cognitive and adaptive abilities in the ASD + ADHD group compared to the ADHD-only group. Significant associations were shown between reduced adaptive functioning and autism symptoms, but not ADHD symptoms. Children with ASD + ADHD present with exacerbated impairments in adaptive functioning relative to children with ADHD, associated with ASD symptoms. Disentangling variation in adaptive skills may aid the assessment of complex cases.
authors.affiliation: MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK, karen.ashwood@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ashwood
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tye
authors.forename: Bahare
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Azadi
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cartwright
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asherson
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bolton
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D000067290:Behavior Rating Scale; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D063189:Symptom Assessment