Many children with autism are more capable academically than their IQ scores would suggest, researchers say, a finding that could have implications for the school supports they receive.
IQ is generally considered a reliable measure of academic ability, at least among typically developing children. But in a study looking at IQ as compared to achievement test scores in reading, spelling and math among 9-year-olds with autism, researchers report in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders this month that the same cannot be said for students who have high functioning autism.
“What we found was astounding: 27 out of the 30 children — that’s 90 percent — had discrepancies between their IQ score and scores on at least one of the academic achievement tests,” said Annette Estes, a research assistant professor at the University of Washington’s Autism Center and one of the study authors. “Some scored higher and some scored lower than what their IQ score would predict.”
The discrepancies were especially profound in spelling and word reading, the researchers report.
Estes says that future study will concentrate on whether or not these trends hold true in the classroom.
“We need to know if children with autism spectrum disorders who have these higher-than-expected scores are able to demonstrate their abilities in the classroom in terms of grades and other measures of success,” Estes said. “This could influence placement in classes that adequately challenge them.”
At the same time, she says, further understanding will ensure that lower performing students get the support they need.
This same disconnect applies for ALL students. These tests are completely unrelated to the academic environment in which the students function, or rather ‘perform’. This illustrates the easy $ access caused by ASD as Dx du jour. How much was spent? where are the new insights, data, conclusions… Research on autism should generate more than an income stream for grad students and science-news reporters!
I agree with these findings. My son is amazingly intelligent and has a diagnosis of Sensory processing disorder on the autistic spectrum just one point from high functioning autism. His IQ scores were extremely high, but his grades especially math do not reflect this, he does excellent in reading and spelling though (but he was also born hearing impaired and I did extensive work towards teaching him to love and excell at reading, the spelling he got on his own, but probally due to the massive amount of reading him and I have done together and seperately). I would love to be part of this research.
I am a voracious reader. I can read and comprehend at a college level I have been told and I am autistic. Spelling and math were some of my worse subjects in school. I have high functioning autism and an IQ of about 90 I have learned when for years I thought it was much much higher than that.
This jibes with our experience. My son seems to be able to do more in school than he was able to display to a very experienced clinician. She thinks that he is mildly retarded. I think he is a high functioning kid with autism who has trouble with assessments.