This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Goldberg Edelson, M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Are the Majority of Children With Autism Mentally Retarded?

A Systematic Evaluation of the Data

Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, medelson@ willamette.edu

There are frequent claims in the literature that a majority of children With autism are mentally retarded (MR). The present study examined the evidence used as the basis for these claims, revieWing 215 articles published betWeen 1937 and 2003. Results indicated 74% of the claims came from nonempirical sources, 53% of Which never traced back to empirical data. Most empirical evidence for the claims Was published 25 to 45 years ago and Was often obtained utilizing developmental or adaptive scales rather than measures of intelligence. Furthermore, significantly higher prevalence rates of MR Were reported When these measures Were used. Overall, the findings indicate that more empirical evidence is needed before conclusions can be made about the percentages of children With autism Who are mentally retarded.

Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, Vol. 21, No. 2, 66-83 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/10883576060210020301


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?