1. Barbeau EB, Soulieres I, Dawson M, Zeffiro TA, Mottron L. {{The Level and Nature of Autistic Intelligence III: Inspection Time}}. {J Abnorm Psychol};2012 (Oct 22)
Across the autism spectrum, level of intelligence is highly dependent on the psychometric instrument used for assessment, and there are conflicting views concerning which measures best estimate autistic cognitive abilities. Inspection time is a processing speed measure associated with general intelligence in typical individuals. We therefore investigated autism spectrum performance on inspection time in relation to two different general intelligence tests. Autism spectrum individuals were divided into autistic and Asperger subgroups according to speech development history. Compared to a typical control group, mean inspection time for the autistic subgroup but not the Asperger subgroup was significantly shorter (by 31%). However, the shorter mean autistic inspection time was evident only when groups were matched on Wechsler IQ and disappeared when they were matched using Raven’s Progressive Matrices. When autism spectrum abilities are compared to typical abilities, results may be influenced by speech development history as well as by the instrument used for intelligence matching. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).
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2. Gotham K, Pickles A, Lord C. {{Trajectories of Autism Severity in Children Using Standardized ADOS Scores}}. {Pediatrics};2012 (Oct 22)
OBJECTIVES:To plot longitudinal trajectories of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) severity from early childhood to early adolescence. In line with reported trajectories in toddlers, we hypothesize that a substantial minority of children will show marked changes in ASD severity over time, with « Improvers » demonstrating the highest mean baseline and rate of growth in verbal IQ (VIQ).METHODS:Patients included 345 clinic referrals and research participants with best-estimate clinical diagnoses of ASD at 1 or more time points, and repeated Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), VIQ, and nonverbal IQ scores. Standardized ADOS severity scores were applied to 1026 assessments collected longitudinally between the ages of 2 and 15 (VIQ at most recent assessment: mean = 58, SD = 35). Scores were fitted for latent severity trajectory classes with and without covariates. Adaptive behavior and VIQ trajectories over time were modeled within each of the best-fit latent classes.RESULTS:A 4-class model best represented the observed data. Over 80% of participants were assigned to persistent (stable) high or moderately severe classes; 2 small classes respectively increased or decreased in severity over time. Age, gender, race, and nonverbal IQ did not predict class membership; VIQ was a significant predictor. Baseline VIQ was highest in the improving and worsening classes; it increased at the greatest rate in the improving class. Adaptive behavior declined in all but the improving class, with consistent impairment in all classes.CONCLUSIONS:If replicated, identified trajectory classes of ADOS severity may contribute to clinical prognosis and to subtyping samples for neurobiological and genetic research.
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3. Politi P, Emanuele E, Grassi M, Project TI. {{Development of the « Playing-in-Touch » (PiT) questionnaire: a measure of musical intouchness in people with low-functioning autism}}. {Neuro Endocrinol Lett};2012 (Oct 22);33(5):552-558.
BACKGROUND: There is accumulating evidence that people with autism have a particular affinity with music. METHODS: This study developed the « Playing-in-Touch » (PiT) questionnaire as an objective measure of musical intouchness – defined as the degree of engagement in creative exchange while playing ensemble music pieces – in persons with low-functioning autism. RESULTS: A 3-facet Rasch model supported the content and construct validity of the PiT scale. The items verified a one-dimensional hierarchical model. CONCLUSIONS: The PiT questionnaire is a convenient complement to other research methodologies exploring the attitudes of people with low-functioning autism in terms of active music making.
