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Friday, May 8, 2009
Northwest Hall (Chicago Hilton)
3:30 PM
Background: A primary aim of recent research has been to define the specific neuropsychological profile in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), in order to delineate appropriate types of interventions aimed to enhancing cognitive capacities in individual with autism (Hooper et al., 2006). However, little is still known about the neuropsychological characteristics of children with HF autism, PDD-NOS and Asperger syndrome, who usually have adequate cognitive abilities compared with controls.
Objectives: On the basis of these consideration our study aimed to profile neuropsychological characteristics in HF autism, PDD-NOS and Asperger syndrome across a range of neuropsychological tasks, compared with a group of controls matched for mental age.
Methods: 30 participants with ASD (8 HF Autism; 11 PDD-NOS; 11 Asperger syndrome; 26 males; 4 females; aver.chron.age= 8,7 yrs; DS 2; aver. IQ = 90; DS =13,3) and 56 ND children (35 males; 21 females; aver.chron.age= 7,8 yrs;DS= 1,8) were asked to performe in a range of neuropsychological tasks (Nepsy-I) measuring memory of faces, memory for names, visual attention, fingertip tapping, imitating hand position and visuomotor precision.
Results: The results showed that children in the three atypical groups were lower than controls in the Sensory Motor Functions domain. PDD-NOS were better than controls in Visual Attention (PDD aver. scores = 8.55; DS=2.4 - ND aver. scores = 6.4; DS= 2.1 – F=0,559; df=65; p=0.004) and in Memory of face (PDD aver. scores = 9.6; DS=4.1 - ND aver. scores = 7; DS= 2.5 – F=1.3162; df=65; p=0.009). The Asperger group was higher than controls only in Memory of face (Asperger aver. scores = 9.9; DS=4.5 - ND aver. scores = 7; DS= 2.5 – F=10.025; df=65; p=0.005).
Conclusions: In line with previous research, the neuropsychological profile of the children with ASD was, in general, characterized by a weakness of sensory motor functioning. The performances in some tasks of the Nepsy-I contributed to define a more specific profile for each single diagnostic group, underling the strengthens of the Asperger and PDD-NOS groups. These different profile might be used to develop individualized programs who might improve the effectiveness of the intervention.
Objectives: On the basis of these consideration our study aimed to profile neuropsychological characteristics in HF autism, PDD-NOS and Asperger syndrome across a range of neuropsychological tasks, compared with a group of controls matched for mental age.
Methods: 30 participants with ASD (8 HF Autism; 11 PDD-NOS; 11 Asperger syndrome; 26 males; 4 females; aver.chron.age= 8,7 yrs; DS 2; aver. IQ = 90; DS =13,3) and 56 ND children (35 males; 21 females; aver.chron.age= 7,8 yrs;DS= 1,8) were asked to performe in a range of neuropsychological tasks (Nepsy-I) measuring memory of faces, memory for names, visual attention, fingertip tapping, imitating hand position and visuomotor precision.
Results: The results showed that children in the three atypical groups were lower than controls in the Sensory Motor Functions domain. PDD-NOS were better than controls in Visual Attention (PDD aver. scores = 8.55; DS=2.4 - ND aver. scores = 6.4; DS= 2.1 – F=0,559; df=65; p=0.004) and in Memory of face (PDD aver. scores = 9.6; DS=4.1 - ND aver. scores = 7; DS= 2.5 – F=1.3162; df=65; p=0.009). The Asperger group was higher than controls only in Memory of face (Asperger aver. scores = 9.9; DS=4.5 - ND aver. scores = 7; DS= 2.5 – F=10.025; df=65; p=0.005).
Conclusions: In line with previous research, the neuropsychological profile of the children with ASD was, in general, characterized by a weakness of sensory motor functioning. The performances in some tasks of the Nepsy-I contributed to define a more specific profile for each single diagnostic group, underling the strengthens of the Asperger and PDD-NOS groups. These different profile might be used to develop individualized programs who might improve the effectiveness of the intervention.