Assessment of executive function in young children with and without ASD using parent ratings and computerized tasks of executive function

Abstract

Objective: The current study investigated executive function (EF) in young children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using multiple methods of assessment. Method: Young children (M = 63.2 months) with and without ASD, matched on age, IQ, and maternal education, were assessed on computerized measures of working memory, inhibition, flexibility, and planning. Parents completed a behavior rating scale assessing children’s EF within everyday contexts. Results: There were no significant group differences on working memory, inhibition, flexibility, or planning. The mean difference on one aspect of the planning task (number of correct trials), however, approached significance and showed a medium to large effect size. There was also a significant difference between groups on the EF behavior rating scale, indicating that participants with ASD demonstrated greater executive dysfunction, as indexed by parent report. Conclusions: The results suggest that in young children with ASD, EF difficulties may only become apparent when situational demands require coordinating multiple abilities, as assessed with scales indexing children’s abilities to manage their day-to-day EF-related behavior. We suggest that multiple methods are needed to achieve a comprehensive and valid EF assessment in young children with ASD.