title: Characteristics of communication among Japanese children with autism spectrum disorder: A cluster analysis using the Children's Communication Checklist-2.
abstract: Some overlap has been suggested among the subtypes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. The Japanese version of the Children's Communication Checklist-2 (CCC-2) is a useful measure for identifying profiles in relation to communication impairments in children with ASD. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the CCC-2 could identify subtypes in relation to communication impairments in Japanese children with ASD. The study participants were 113 children with ASD but without intellectual disabilities aged 3-12 years. Parents were given the Japanese version of the CCC-2 and asked to rate their children, who were then classified into two groups based on statistical analysis. Significant differences were found between clusters in mean CCC-2 subscales. These results suggest that one subtype was associated with low language competence and strong characteristics of autism, while the other was associated with relatively high language competence and milder characteristics of autism.
authors.affiliation: a Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University , Ishikawa , Japan.
authors.forename: Sanae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: b United Graduate School of Child Development, Kanazawa University , Ishikawa , Japan.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oi
authors.affiliation: c Comprehensive Educational Science, Tokyo Gakugei University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujino
authors.affiliation: a Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University , Ishikawa , Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.affiliation: a Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University , Ishikawa , Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.affiliation: d English Education Center, Institute for Education and Student Support, Ehime University , Ehime , Japan.
authors.forename: Yui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.affiliation: e Faculty of Sociology , Chukyo University , Aichi , Japan.
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsujii
authors.affiliation: f Chuo College of Social Services, Nihon Fukushi University , Aichi , Japan.
authors.forename: Harue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohoka
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000145:classification*; D057189:Checklist / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Children’s Communication Checklist, Version 2; cluster analysis; communication; high-functioning autism spectrum disorder; subtype