Cognitive and social adaptation in autism spectrum disorder: A prospective cohort study.

Background: During development, children face a number of demands and cognitive, behavioral, and social challenges necessary for growth. Cognitive skills make individuals competent and allow them to interact with their environment.

Objective: To identify the cognitive skills that promote better social insertion in children with autism spectrum disorder within 12 months.

Design and setting: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: In this study, 21 children aged 3-12 years were assessed, and their mothers were interviewed. Children were enrolled in regular or special autistic schools. Twelve months after the first assessment, the same children participated in the second assessment. In individual interviews, mothers provided data by answering the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale. Each child was assessed individually using the fourth edition of the Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale 4th Edition.

Results: In the first assessment, the Stanford Binet areas and total scores correlated with the communication domains, daily life abilities, socialization, and total score of the Vineland Scale. After 12 months, a correlation was observed between the Stanford Binet areas and the total and communication domains, daily life abilities, socialization, motor abilities, and total score on the Vineland Scale.

Conclusion: Logic mathematics and memory promote better social insertion in children with autism spectrum disorder. General cognitive ability promotes communication.