Brief Report: Adaptive Functioning in Children with ASD, ADHD and ASD + ADHD

Karen L Ashwood; Charlotte Tye; Bahare Azadi; Sally Cartwright; Philip Asherson; Patrick Bolton

doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2352-y

Brief Report: Adaptive Functioning in Children with ASD, ADHD and ASD + ADHD

J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Jul;45(7):2235-42. doi: 10.1007/s10803-014-2352-y.

Authors

Karen L Ashwood¹, Charlotte Tye, Bahare Azadi, Sally Cartwright, Philip Asherson, Patrick Bolton

Affiliation

¹ MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK, karen.ashwood@kcl.ac.uk.

PMID: 25614019
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2352-y

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.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological*
Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / complications*
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / complications*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology*
Behavior Rating Scale
Case-Control Studies
Child
Humans
Intelligence
Male
Symptom Assessment