Abstract
There is a dearth of research regarding adaptive functioning during the transition to adulthood in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Profiles on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition were examined by age and intellectual ability in 75 participants with ASD (16–58 years). Results extend previous reports of a cognitive advantage over adaptive functioning in children by demonstrating a similar pattern in an older sample. Daily living skills were a relative strength compared to communication and socialization in adults, but not adolescents. In general, highest subdomain scores were observed in writing skills and lowest scores were observed in interpersonal skills. Regardless of cognitive ability, all standard scores were well below average, indicating a need for lifelong intervention that targets adaptive functioning.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Arnett, J. J. (2007). Emerging adulthood: What is it, and what is it good for? Child Development Perspectives, 1, 68–73. doi:10.1111/j.1750-8606.2007.00016.x.
Bjorklund, D. F. (1997). The role of immaturity in human development. Psychological Bulletin, 122, 153–169. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.122.2.153.
Buxbaum, J. D., Silverman, J. M., Smith, C. J., Kilifarski, M., Reichert, J., Hollander, E., & Davis, K. L. (2001). Evidence for a susceptibility gene for autism on chromosome 2 and for genetic heterogeneity. American Journal of Human Genetics, 68, 1514–1520. doi:10.1086/320588.
Carter, A. S., Volkmar, F. R., Sparrow, S. S., Wang, J. J., Lord, C., Dawson, G., & Schopler, E. (1998). The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales: Supplementary norms for individuals with Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 28, 287–302. doi:10.1023/A:1026056518470.
Chakrabarti, S., & Fombonne, E. (2005). Pervasive developmental disorders in preschool children: Confirmation of high prevalence. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(6), 1133–1141. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.162.6.1133.
Duncan, A. W., & Bishop, S. L. (2013). Understanding the gap between cognitive abilities and daily living skills in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders with average intelligence. Autism,. doi:10.1177/1362361313510068.
Edwards, T. L., Watkins, E. E., Lotfizadeh, A. D., & Poling, A. (2012). Intervention research to benefit people with autism: How old are the participants? Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6, 996–999. doi:10.1016/j.rasd/2011.11.002.
Farley, M. A., McMahon, W. M., Fombonne, E., Jenson, W. R., Miller, J., Gardner, M., & Coon, H. (2009). Twenty-year outcome for individuals with autism and average or near-average cognitive abilities. Autism Research, 2, 109–118. doi:10.1002/aur.69.
Fenton, G., D’Ardia, C., Valente, D., Vecchio, I., Fabrizi, A., & Bernabei, P. (2003). Vineland adaptive behavior profiles in children with autism and moderate to severe developmental delay. Autism, 7, 269–287. doi:10.1177/13623613030073004.
Huynh, H., & Feldt, L. S. (1970). Conditions under which mean square ratios in repeated measures designs have exact F-distributions. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 65(332), 1582–1589. doi:10.2307/2284340.
Kanne, S. M., Gerber, A. J., Quirmback, L. M., Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., & Saulnier, C. A. (2011). The role of adaptive behavior in autism spectrum disorders: Implications for functional outcome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 1007–1018. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1126-4.
Kaufman, A. S., & Kaufman, N. L. (2004). Kaufman brief intelligence test (2nd ed.). Bloomington, MN: Pearson Inc.
Klin, A., Saulnier, C. A., Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., Volkmar, F. R., & Lord, C. (2007). Social and communication abilities and disabilities in higher functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorders: The Vineland and the ADOS. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 748–759. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0229-4.
Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., & Risi, S. (1999). Autism diagnostic observation schedule manual. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., Risi, S., Gotham, K., & Bishop, S. L. (2012). Autism diagnostic observation schedule, Second Edition manual (Part 1): Modules 1–4. Torrance, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Matson, J. L., Rivet, T. T., Fodstad, J. C., Dempsey, T., & Boisjoli, J. A. (2009). Examination of adaptive behavior differences in adults with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 1317–1325.
Perry, A., Flanagan, H. E., Geier, J. D., & Freeman, N. L. (2009). Brief report: The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales in young children with autism spectrum disorders at different cognitive levels. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 1066–1078. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0704-9.
Rutter, M., Le Couteur, A., & Lord, C. (2003). Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) manual. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Smith, L. E., Maenner, M. J., & Seltzer, M. M. (2012). Developmental trajectories in adolescents and adults with autism: The case of daily living skills. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 51, 622–631. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2012.03.001.
Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., & Balla, D. A. (2005). Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, survey forms manual (2nd ed.). Bloomington, MN: Pearson Inc.
Taylor, J. L., & Seltzer, M. M. (2011). Employment and post-secondary educational activities for young adults with autism spectrum disorders during the transition to adulthood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 566–574. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2012.03.001.
Acknowledgments
We thank Autism Speaks for financial support of this project. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions made by Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center research staff to data collection and coding. We also thank the families who participated in this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Matthews, N.L., Smith, C.J., Pollard, E. et al. Adaptive Functioning in Autism Spectrum Disorder During the Transition to Adulthood. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 2349–2360 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2400-2
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2400-2