The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) was applied (in a Swedish version) in 120 children with Asperger syndrome, autistic disorder, and attention disorders. Using stepwise logistic regression analysis, the WISC's discriminating ability was investigated. The overall rate of correct diagnostic classification was 63%. Further, WISC profiles were analysed within each group. The group with autistic disorder was characterised by a peak on Block Design. The Asperger syndrome group had good verbal ability and troughs on Object Assembly and Coding. The group with attention disorders had troughs on Coding and Arithmetic. The results suggest that Kaufman's Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Organisation and Freedom from Distractibility factors rather than verbal IQ and performance IQ account for the variance on the WISC. Furthermore, the Asperger syndrome and autistic disorder groups differed in respect of "fluid" and "crystallised" cognitive ability.

Referential communication was studied in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) including children with autism and Asperger syndrome. The aim was to study alternative explanations for the children's communicative problems in such situations. Factors studied were theory of mind, IQ, verbal ability and memory. The main results demonstrated diminished performance in children with autism spectrum disorder, mirroring performance in everyday life, in comparison to verbal IQ and mental age matched typically developing children. Among children with autism spectrum disorders, there was a positive relationship between performance in referential communication and theory of mind. Memory capacity also proved to play a role in success in the task.

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IntroductionThe last two decades increase in early detection and diagnosing children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has challenged child and youth habilitation centers to offer the best and most appropriate treatment and support.Objectives and aimsTo evaluate an ongoing Comprehensive Intensive Early Intervention (CIEI) program for children with ASD based on principles of behaviour learning and developmental science, implemented in the child's natural setting.MethodThe change in autism symptoms among children participating in CIEI (intervention group, n = 67) was compared with children who received traditional habilitation services only (comparison group, n = 27). Symptom changes were measured as evaluation-ADOS-R-scores, total-, severity-, and module-adjusted-scores (ADOS-MAS), minus the corresponding baseline-scores, divided by the time between baseline and evaluation, and estimated using ANOVA adjusting for confounders. The ADOS-MAS were developed to allow improved communicative functions to be counted in the overall symptom improvement.ResultsChildren in both study groups improved their autism symptoms as measured with the ADOS-MAS, and the improvement was statistically significantly larger among children without any developmental delay (P < .001). When adjustments were made for developmental delay, there was a statistically significant larger improvement of ADOS-MAS among children in the intervention group than in the comparison group (P = 0.047). Similar results were found for ADOS-R-total and ADOS-severity scores (P = 0.023 and P = 0.060. respectively).ConclusionThe results of the current study indicate that the CIEI program significantly improve social and communicative skills among children with autism, and that children with developmental delay could benefit to a similar degree as other children.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.