Social Skills Differences Between the Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Social skills deficits are one of the core features of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), with many believing that this symptom domain is the defining feature of individuals with ASDs. Presently, Asperger’s Disorder, Autistic Disorder, and PDD-NOS make up the spectrum, but future revisions to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders propose that all of these disorders should be collapsed. Much debate has centered on this decision as some researchers believe the three ASDs to be uniquely different. As such, the purpose of the current investigation was to examine social skills differences between the three ASD groups. Participants were children ages 4 through 16 years who had been diagnosed with Asperger’s Disorder, Autistic Disorder, or PDD-NOS and who did not have comorbid intellectual disability. Their scores on the factors of the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters-II (i.e., Hostile, Adaptive/Appropriate, and Inappropriately Assertive/Overconfident) were compared. Children with Asperger’s Disorder demonstrated significantly greater adaptive/appropriate social skills when compared to children with Autistic Disorder, and they also exhibited greater impairments with respect to hostility. No other differences were noted between ASD groups. The implications of these findings are discussed.