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Although social skills deficits and restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are defining features of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), relatively little is understood about the relationship between them. Recently, it has also been argued that the relationship between RRBs and social engagement has been exaggerated and that these domains are independent (Mandy & Skuse, 2008). Yet, in a recent study of children with ASD, mild social impairment was significantly linked to the presence of more severe RRBs, specifically “insistence on sameness” behaviors (Richler, Huerta, Bishop, & Lord, under review). Further, response to social interventions suggests that a relationship may exist between social engagement and RRBs (e.g., Oke & Schreibman, 1990; Pierce & Schreibman, 1997; Loftin, Odom, & Lantz, 2007).
Re-examining the nature of restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) may shed light on the relationship between RRBs and social communication behavior. Factor analyses of restricted and repetitive behaviors have revealed two subtypes of RRBs: ‘repetitive sensorimotor’ (RSM) behaviors and the other of ‘insistence on sameness’ (IS) behaviors (Cuccaro et al., 2003). More recently, a study by Lam, Bodfish, and Piven (2008) identified a 3rd factor of circumscribed interests. Using such an approach to examine RRBs types in children with ASD may be useful to uncover links between RRBs and social functioning.
Objectives: This study will explore the relationship between social functioning and RRBs in individuals with ASDs.
Methods: Subjects will include approximately 49 verbally fluent individuals, ages 5-12 years, participating in genetic studies of autism. Diagnoses of ASD will be confirmed and dimensions of functioning will be measured by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R) and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). The relationship between social functioning and RRB will be explored, using age and IQ as covariates.
Results: Results of the data analysis described above will be presented. Implications for ASD treatment and research will be discussed.
Conclusions: These results will add to our existing knowledge of restricted and repetitive behaviors and their relationship to social functioning in children with ASD.