Social Deficits in Autism: An Operational Approach Using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales

Abstract

Although social factors are commonly viewed as an important defining characteristics of the autistic syndrome, earlier research studies have not systematically evaluated social dysfunction in autistic individuals. In this study, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales were used to assess adaptive behavior in a group of autistic and a group of nonautistic, developmentally disabled, individuals. As compared to nonautistic subjects, the autistic group exhibited significantly greater deficits in adaptive social behaviors. The result suggests the utility of a well-standardized, normative assessment instrument for documenting autistic social dysfunction. © 1987, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. All rights reserved.