Intellectual profile of children with autism spectrum disorder: Identification of verbal and nonverbal subscales predicting intelligence quotient

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the intelligence quotient (IQ) profile among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and identify the most important subscales that predict the IQ. The analysis of an intellectual profile with age and gender differentials and the identification of a battery of subscales of intelligence are important for clinical management of ASD among children and for facilitating placement for remedial and educational services. Methods: Data were collected through an exploratory study of 100 children aged between three and 13 years, who were referred to the department of child health and development in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, a tertiary hospital, in Oman between June 2016 and June 2019. Results: Among the 100 participants of this study, 79% were male, resulting in a male–female ratio of 4:1. The mean of full-scale IQ was found to be 68.6 ± 18.1. Furthermore, the mean of nonverbal IQ (73.5 ± 17.5) was significantly higher than that of verbal IQ (65.5 ± 17.6). Finally, more than half (61%) of the children were observed to have had mild to moderate impairment in their IQ levels. Conclusions: Age and gender showed no significant association with IQ level. The regression analysis identified nonverbal fluid reasoning, nonverbal visual-spatial processing, nonverbal working memory and verbal knowledge as the significant predictors of total IQ. The crucial dimensions of verbal and nonverbal IQ identified in this study can be used to evaluate complicated cases.