Elevated symptoms of executive dysfunction predict lower adaptive functioning in 3-year-olds with autism spectrum disorder.
Kelly Powell, Suzanne Macari, Emma Brennan-Wydra and 8 others
PMID 35388596WHAT IT FOUND
Toddlers with autism had higher parent-rated executive function difficulties than siblings, children with other delays, and typically developing peers.
These difficulties were linked to poorer communication, socialization, and daily living skills, even after accounting for development and autism severity.
Key findings
01In 169 toddlers, the autism group had higher BRIEF-P executive dysfunction scores than the sibling, atypical development, and typical development groups.
02In the autism group, 52.1% met the BRIEF-P clinical cutoff, compared with 20.0% of the atypical group, 6.0% of the sibling group, and 3.6% of the typical group.
03In the autism group, higher BRIEF-P scores were associated with lower Vineland daily living skills scores after sex, autism symptom severity, and developmental scores were included in the model.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study used only parent report to measure executive function. It measured associations at one time point, so it cannot show that executive dysfunction caused lower adaptive functioning. The authors did not follow children into school age to test whether early executive function problems predicted later adaptive outcomes. The paper states that empirically supported executive function interventions for toddlers and preschoolers with autism are not yet available.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The paper is listed as receiving NIH extramural research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that executive function treatment improves communication, socialization, or daily living skills. The study measured associations at one time point and did not test an intervention.