Performance-based measures in autism: Implications for diagnosis, early detection, and identification of cognitive profiles

Provides a critical review of performance-based assessment measures in auti sm. Currently, performance-based measures of autism are being explored in t wo domains: structured play sessions and cognitive-neuropsychological asses sments. Structured play sessions are designed to elicit the behavioral symp toms associated with autism to provide a consistent and valid means of earl y detection and diagnosis of autism across different evaluators and setting s. These structured play sessions provide a supplement to diagnostic instru ments based on parental report. Cognitive-neuropsychological tasks have bee n used to identify possible underlying cognitive impairments in autism incl uding executive function, theory of mind, selective attention, and abstract ion. Currently, cognitive tasks ave useful in treatment planning but are in appropriate for diagnostic purposes. Important goals for the future will be to integrate parent-report diagnostic interviews and structured play obser vations and to identify aprofile of cognitive impairments that are specific to pervasive developmental disorders that can be incorporated into diagnos tic protocols.