Can the Children's Communication Checklist differentiate autism spectrum subtypes?

Autism. 2006 May;10(3):266-87. doi: 10.1177/1362361306063299.

Abstract

The study explored whether children with high functioning autism (HFA), Asperger syndrome (AS), and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) can be differentiated on the Children's Communication Checklist (CCC). The study also investigated whether empirically derived autistic subgroups can be identified with a cluster analytic method based on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. Fifty-seven children with HFA, 47 with AS, 31 with PDD-NOS, and a normal control group of 47 children between 6 and 13 years participated. Children with HFA, AS, and PDD-NOS showed pragmatic communication deficits in comparison to the controls. Little difference was found between the three subtypes with respect to their CCC profile. A three-cluster solution explained the data best. The HFA cluster showed most autism characteristics, followed by the combined HFA + AS cluster, and then the PDD-NOS cluster. The findings support the autism spectrum concept based on severity of symptom impairment rather than distinct categories.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Asperger Syndrome / classification
  • Asperger Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Asperger Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Autistic Disorder / classification*
  • Autistic Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Autistic Disorder / physiopathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Developmental Disabilities / classification
  • Developmental Disabilities / diagnosis
  • Developmental Disabilities / physiopathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*