Patterns of adaptive performance by individuals with autism spectrum disorders on the Behavior Assessment System for Children II (BASC-2)

Lindsey DeVries; Myra Beth Bundy; Jonathan S. Gore

doi:10.1515/ijdhd-2012-0114

Article

Patterns of adaptive performance by individuals with autism spectrum disorders on the Behavior Assessment System for Children II (BASC-2)

Lindsey DeVries , Myra Beth Bundy and Jonathan S. Gore

Published/Copyright: April 13, 2013

Published by

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Author Information Explore this Subject

From the journal International Journal on Disability and Human Development Volume 12 Issue 3

Abstract

Background: Although there are several assessments that directly measure adaptive behavior, other comprehensive measures include adaptive behavior scales, including the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-Second Edition Parent Rating Scale (BASC-2-PRS).

Methods: BASC-2-PRS data from 19 individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders were analyzed to determine score discrepancies between diagnoses [autistic disorder, Asperger’s syndrome (AS), and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)] on the adaptive behavior profiles on this measure. Differences were hypothesized to correlate with diagnostic intensity (autistic disorder, including the most intense characteristics, followed by AS, and then PDD-NOS). Communication sub-scores of the adaptive behavior scale were expected to be significantly lower for the group with autism than the two other groups.

Results: Results indicated significant differences between diagnoses on the adaptability subscale. Differences in cluster score patterns in relation to diagnosis were also observed in the areas of Social Skills and Communication. Interestingly, ratings of the ability to engage in activities of daily living were more often the highest subscale for those with autistic disorder than those with AS or PDD-NOS.

Conclusions: The utility of the BASC-2 adaptive behavior scale is discussed in this context.

Keywords: adaptive functioning, autism; behavioral assessment system; Behavioral Assessment for Children (BASC); patterns of adaptive performance by individuals with autism spectrum disorders on the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Second Edition (BASC-2)

Corresponding author: Lindsey DeVries, Psychology Department, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475, USA

References

1. Wing L, Potter D. The epidemiology of autistic spectrum disorders: Is the prevalence rising? Mental Retar Dev Disabil Res Rev 2002;8:151–62.10.1002/mrdd.10029Search in Google Scholar

2. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000.Search in Google Scholar

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders: autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, United States, 2006.Search in Google Scholar

4. Kim YS, Leventhal BL, Koh YJ, Fombonne E, Laska E, Lim EC, et al. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in a total population sample. Am J Psych 2011;168:904–12.10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.10101532Search in Google Scholar

5. Fombonne E. The changing epidemiology of autism. J Appl Res Intellectual Dis 2005;18:281–94.10.1111/j.1468-3148.2005.00266.xSearch in Google Scholar

6. Sparrow SS, Balla DA, Cicchetti DV. Vineland adaptive behavior scales. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service, 1984.Search in Google Scholar

7. Stone W, Ousley OY, Hepburn SL, Hogan KL, Brown CS. Patterns of adaptive behavior in very young children with autism. Am J Mental Retar 1999;104:187–99.10.1352/0895-8017(1999)104<0187:POABIV>2.0.CO;2Search in Google Scholar

8. Klin A, Sparrow SS, Marans WD, Carter A, Volkmar FR. Assessment issues in children with Asperger’s disorder. In: Klin A, Volkmar, FR, Sparrow SS, editors. Asperger’s disorder. New York, NY: Guilford, 2000.Search in Google Scholar

9. Volker MA, Lopata C, Smerbeck AM, Knoll VA, Thomeer ML, Toomey JA, et al. BASC-2 PRS profiles for students with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disorder 2010;40:188–99.10.1007/s10803-009-0849-6Search in Google Scholar

10. Lee H, Park H. An integrated literature review on the adaptive behavior of individuals with Asperger syndrome. Rem Special Ed 2007;28:132–9.10.1177/07419325070280030201Search in Google Scholar

11. Paskiewictz T. A comparison of adaptive behavior skills and IQ in three populations: children with learning disabilities, mental retardation, and autism. Diss Abstr Int Sect B Sci Eng 2009;70:717.Search in Google Scholar

12. Matson JL, Rivet TT, Fodstad JC, Dempsey T, Boisjoli J. Examination of adaptive behavior differences in adults with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability. Res Dev Disabil 2009;30:1317–25.10.1016/j.ridd.2009.05.008Search in Google Scholar

13. Fenton G, D’Ardia C, Valente D, Del Vecchio I, Fabrizi A, Bernabei P. Vineland adaptive behavior profiles in children with autism and moderate to severe developmental delay. Autism 2003;7:269–87.10.1177/13623613030073004Search in Google Scholar

14. Klin A, Pauls D, Schultz R, Volkmar FR. Three diagnostic approaches to Asperger syndrome: implications for research. J Autism Dev Disord 2005;35:221–34.10.1007/s10803-004-2001-ySearch in Google Scholar

15. Ozonoff S, Goodlin-Jones B, Solomon M. Evidence-based assessment of autism spectrum disorders in children and adolescents. J Clin Child Adol Psych 2005;34:523–40.10.1207/s15374424jccp3403_8Search in Google Scholar

16. Bruininks R, Woodcock R, Weatherman R, Hill B. Scales of independent behavior-revised. Park Allen, TX: DLM Teaching Resources, 1996.Search in Google Scholar

17. Brown L, Bundy MB, Gore J. Patterns of adaptive performance by individuals with autism spectrum disorders on the Scales of Independent Behavior-Revised (SIB-R). Int J Disabil Hum Dev 2010;9:315–8.10.1515/IJDHD.2010.035Search in Google Scholar

18. Kamphaus RW, Petoskey MD, Rowe EW. Current trends in psychological testing of children. Prof Psych: Res Practice 2000;31:155–64.10.1037/0735-7028.31.2.155Search in Google Scholar

19. Lord C, Corsello C. Diagnostic instruments in autistic spectrum disorders. In Volkmar FR, Paul R, Klin A, Cohen D, editors. Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders: Vol. 2. Assessment, interventions, and policy 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2005: pp. 730–71.Search in Google Scholar

20. Reynolds CR. Kamphaus RW. Behavior assessment system for children-second edition. Circle Pines, MN: AGS, 2004.Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2012-8-12

Accepted: 2012-12-13

Published Online: 2013-04-13

Published in Print: 2013-08-01

You are currently not able to access this content.

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ijdhd-2012-0114

Keywords for this article

adaptive functioning, autism; behavioral assessment system; Behavioral Assessment for Children (BASC); patterns of adaptive performance by individuals with autism spectrum disorders on the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Second Edition (BASC-2)