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Adaptive behavior of children with Infantile Autism compared to children with Down's Syndrome and children with schizophrenia
Abstract
The major purposes of this study were: to provide descriptive data regarding the developmental functioning and adaptive behavior of male subjects with Infantile Autism and compare these subjects to Down's Syndrome and schizophrenic children with regard to developmental functioning and adaptive behavior. The study sample was comprised of 10 children with a DSM-III diagnosis of Infantile Autism; 10 children with a DSM-III diagnosis of Mental Retardation, secondary to Down's Syndrome; and 10 children with a DSM-III diagnosis of Schizophrenia. All subjects were males between 5 years 0 months and 12 years 11 months of age. Developmental functioning was defined to include several types of demographic data such as a subject age, ethnicity, parental education, parental occupation, age when first evaluated, parental marital status, birth order, number of siblings, and membership in support organizations. Developmental functioning was also defined to include data regarding the birth, developmental milestone, and educational histories of each subject. Adaptive behavior was defined as that behavior which is measured by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Research Edition B. Results indicated that the autistic subjects, compared to Down's Syndrome and schizophrenic subjects, had more pregnancy and birth complications, delayed developmental milestones, variability in onset and symptomology, and parental dissatisfaction with the subjects educational program. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Research Edition B, differentiated the samples on the domains of Communication and Maladaptive Behavior. No significant differences were noted on domains of Daily Living Skills and Socialization or on Composite Scores. Autistic subjects had lower means, compared to the Down's Syndrome and schizophrenic subjects, on all domains of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Research Edition B. This finding suggested that the autistic sample displayed the most impairment in adaptive behavior. Autistic subjects evidenced more within group variability of skills on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Research Edition B. This finding provides further evidence for conceptualizing autistic children as a heterogeneous group. The implications for using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales in the assessment of autistic children are discussed. Recommendations for future research on Infantile Autism using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales are discussed.
Description
Typescript (photocopy).Subject
Major educational psychology1984 Dissertation W876
Autistic children
Developmental disabilities
Collections
Citation
Wood, Jesse David (1984). Adaptive behavior of children with Infantile Autism compared to children with Down's Syndrome and children with schizophrenia. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -589773.
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