Cited by 599Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchChild Nutrition and Feeding IssuesDown syndrome and intellectual disability research

IQ in children with autism spectrum disorders: Data from the special needs and autism project (SNAP)

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Charman, T., Pickles, A., Simonoff, E., Chandler, S., Loucas, T., Baird, G.·2011·Psychological Medicine

Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was once considered to be highly associated with intellectual disability and to show a characteristic IQ profile, with strengths in performance over verbal abilities and a distinctive pattern of ‘peaks’ and ‘troughs’ at the subtest level. However, there are few data from epidemiological studies. Method: Comprehensive clinical assessments were conducted with 156 children aged 10–14 years [mean ( s.d .)=11.7 (0.9)], seen as part of an epidemiological study (81 childhood autism, 75 other ASD). A sample weighting procedure enabled us to estimate characteristics of the total ASD population. Results: Of the 75 children with ASD, 55% had an intellectual disability (IQ<70) but only 16% had moderate to severe intellectual disability (IQ<50); 28% had average intelligence (115>IQ>85) but only 3% were of above average intelligence (IQ>115). There was some evidence for a clinically significant Performance/Verbal IQ (PIQ/VIQ) discrepancy but discrepant verbal versus performance skills were not associated with a particular pattern of symptoms, as has been reported previously. There was mixed evidence of a characteristic subtest profile: whereas some previously reported patterns were supported (e.g. poor Comprehension), others were not (e.g. no ‘peak’ in Block Design). Adaptive skills were significantly lower than IQ and were associated with severity of early social impairment and also IQ. Conclusions: In this epidemiological sample, ASD was less strongly associated with intellectual disability than traditionally held and there was only limited evidence of a distinctive IQ profile. Adaptive outcome was significantly impaired even for those children of average intelligence.

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  • The extent to which a cognitive profile can be reliably identified for individuals meeting criteria for autism or ADHD remains unclear.

    “However, the extent to which a cognitive profile can be reliably identified for individuals meeting criteria for autism or ADHD remains unclear.”

    From Cognitive Profile in Autism and ADHD: A Meta-Analysis of Performance on the WAIS-IV and WISC-V (2024) · cites this paper as Charman et al., 2011

    The Conclusions (page not provided) state that children with ASD did not show the commonly understood characteristic WISC profile, supporting uncertainty about a reliably identifiable profile in autism. The paper studies ASD, not ADHD, so it does not support the ADHD portion of the claim. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Research has not always supported the idea of specific profiles on the Wechsler tests.

    “However, research has not always supported the idea of specific profiles on the Wechsler tests (Charman et al., 2011).”
  • A substantial verbal-nonverbal IQ gap is common in ASD, occurring in more than 40% of cases.

    “Similarly, an uneven cognitive profile with a significant discrepancy between verbal and nonverbal IQ (VIQ and NVIQ), or an IQ split, is frequent in ASD, present in over 40% of affected individuals 24,25.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Raven JC, Court JH, Raven J (1990a). Coloured Progressive Matrices. Oxford University Press : Oxford.
  2. Wechsler D (1992). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third UK Edition. The Psychological Corporation : London.

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Authors
Charman, T., Pickles, A., Simonoff, E., Chandler, S., Loucas, T., & Baird, G.
Affiliations
  • University of Manchester (GB)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • University of Reading (GB)
  • Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
Corresponding author
Charman, T.
Venue
Psychological Medicine
Published
2010-05-19
Volume
41
Issue
3
Pages
619-627
ISSN
  • 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8978
OpenAlex
W2138917845
Cited by
599
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 67 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 67 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 47 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 37 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 26
FWCI
13.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CentAUR (University of Reading) (submittedVersion)
  • IOE EPrints (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, adaptive skills, children with autism
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Intelligence, Intelligence Tests, Male, Intellectual Disability, Wechsler Scales

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