Using the Nonverbal Test SON-R2 ½ - 7 [a] to Assess Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

The relevance of cognitive assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorders is due to the association between cognitive deficits and severity of symptoms, adaptive functioning, prognosis and planning of more effective interventions.Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the non-verbal test of intelligence SON-R 2 ½ - 7 [a] adequacy in ASD group of children. The participants were 18 boys aged 4 and 7 years old, diagnosed based on the DSM-IV-TR and scored on screening instruments. The nonverbal intelligence test SON-R 2 ½ - 7 [a], the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), the Autism Screening Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) were used. The results showed that 55.6% of the group had IQs below average, and there was significant difference between the performance of TEA group and normative sample in the four subtests that compose the instrument. Intra-group analysis showed statistically significant differences between subtests, although these showed significant positive correlations with each other. Negative and significant correlations were observed between IQ Total in SON-R 2 ½ - 7 [a] the ABC and ASQ, as well as positive and significant correlations were observed between Total IQ and VABS. The results corroborate previous findings that indicate moderate relationships between intelligence, severityof symptoms and functionality, as well as the presence of specific profile of nonverbal performance in ASD group.