Executive Functions in Elementary Students with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders

It is said that the neuropsychological profile of children with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NLD) and children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) bears considerable similarities. Ten children with NLD (117.70±11.42), and ten children with ASD (119.60±9.54) participated in this study, in order to examine their Executive Function (EF) skills (planning). NLD participants performed low planning skills by exhibiting a gradually descending achievement. ASD participants performed low planning skills, as well. However, the ASD group performed more intense differences (extreme low and high scores). Both groups performed achievement below the mean. However, they differed in the type of errors, underlying the importance of individual assessment and qualitative analysis. The current study extends previous findings indicating differences between NLD and ASD groups. Relations between errors and cognitive characteristics of each group are discussed, as well as implications of the above findings are discussed for understanding the neurocognitive substrates of both NLD and ASD.