Table 3.
Characteristics of children aged 8 years with profound autism and non–profound autism among children with autism spectrum disorder (N = 20 135), ADDM Network, 15 sites, United States, 2000-2016 a
| Characteristic | Non–profound autism, no. b (%) (n = 14 755) | Profound autism, no. c (%) (n = 5380) |
|---|---|---|
| Profound autism case criteria | ||
| Intelligence quotient (IQ) <50 only | — | 2295 (42.7) |
| Nonverbal/minimally verbal only | — | 2049 (38.1) |
| IQ <50 AND nonverbal/minimally verbal | — | 1036 (19.3) |
| Associated behavioral and clinical features | ||
| Self-injurious behaviors | ||
| No | 11 077 (75.1) | 3414 (63.5) |
| Yes | 3678 (24.9) | 1966 (36.5) |
| Aggressive behaviors | ||
| No | 7178 (48.6) | 2546 (47.3) |
| Yes | 7577 (51.4) | 2834 (52.7) |
| Seizure or seizure-like behaviors | ||
| No | 11 343 (76.9) | 3715 (69.1) |
| Yes | 3412 (23.1) | 1665 (31.0) |
| Adaptive functioning score d | ||
| ≤70 | 6745 (45.7) | 4271 (79.4) |
| 71-85 | 5283 (35.8) | 871 (16.2) |
| >85 | 2727 (18.5) | 237 (4.4) |
Profound autism was defined as children with autism who were either nonverbal or minimally verbal or had an intelligence quotient (IQ) <50. Non–profound autism was defined as children with autism who did not meet the profound autism criteria. Data source: Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. 8
Sample sizes may not sum to 14 755 because of rounding the average number in each group for the 20 imputed datasets.
Sample sizes may not sum to 5380 because of rounding the average number in each group for the 20 imputed datasets.
Among those who met the definition of profound autism by verbal status alone (ie, IQ >50), 64% had an adaptive score of ≤70, 27% had an adaptive score of 71-85, and 9% had an adaptive score of >85.