The processing speed deficit in adults with ASD appears on each of the three standardized subtests: Trail Making A, Symbol Coding, and Category Fluency¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (3 entries) · associational r2 · q3 · i2–i3
Currency · newest study 2018 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 3 of 3 entries) · not reviewed by a person · overdue for a recheck since 2023: baselines and conditions change

Subclaims¶

q3 i3 ASD participants were significantly slower on Trail Making Test Part A than controls (d = .84). → Haigh Sarah M. 2018 q3 i3 ASD participants completed significantly fewer Symbol Coding items in 90 s than controls (d = -.90). → Haigh Sarah M. 2018 (2) q3 i2 ASD participants completed significantly fewer Category Fluency items in 60 s than controls (d = -.65). → Haigh Sarah M. 2018 (3)

Evidence¶

Haigh Sarah M. 2018¶

Haigh Sarah M., Walsh Jennifer A., Mazefsky Carla A., Minshew Nancy J., Eack Shaun M. (2018). Processing Speed is Impaired in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Relates to Social Communication Abilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3515-z

q3 · i3 · associational · r2

ANCOVA of Trail Making Test Part A completion time in the same 76 ASD vs 64 control case-control sample, controlling for age, race, and education. ASD mean was 32.82 s versus 23.76 s in controls; the article reports "F(1, 134) = 22.35, p = < .001, d = .84".

"The ASD group showed significantly slower completion time on the Trail Making Test (M = 32.82 s, SE = 2.08) compared to the control group (M = 23.76 s, SE = 2.07); F(1, 134) = 22.35, p = < .001, d = .84"

Haigh Sarah M. 2018 (2)¶

Haigh Sarah M., Walsh Jennifer A., Mazefsky Carla A., Minshew Nancy J., Eack Shaun M. (2018). Processing Speed is Impaired in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Relates to Social Communication Abilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3515-z

q3 · i3 · associational · r2

ANCOVA of BACS Symbol Coding items completed in 90 s in the same case-control sample. ASD participants completed fewer items (M = 54.40) than controls (M = 65.38); the article reports "F(1, 134) = 25.38, p < .001, d = − .90".

"completed significantly fewer items in 90 s on the Symbol Coding task (M = 54.40, SE = 2.36) compared to the control group (M = 65.38, SE = 2.36) after controlling for age, race, and education level, F(1, 134) = 25.38, p < .001, d = − .90"

Haigh Sarah M. 2018 (3)¶

Haigh Sarah M., Walsh Jennifer A., Mazefsky Carla A., Minshew Nancy J., Eack Shaun M. (2018). Processing Speed is Impaired in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Relates to Social Communication Abilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3515-z

q3 · i2 · associational · r2

ANCOVA of Category Fluency: Animal Naming items in 60 s in the same case-control sample. ASD participants named fewer animals (M = 22.78) than controls (M = 27.07); the article reports "F(1, 134) = 13.19, p < .001, d = − .65".

"ASD participants completed significantly fewer items in 60 s on the Category Fluency task (M = 22.78, SE = 1.28) compared to the control group (M = 27.07, SD = 1.28) after controlling for age, race, and education level, F(1, 134) = 13.19, p < .001, d = − .65"

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Learning Disabilities and Developmental Differences — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes
• Autism Spectrum Disorder — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• Adults with ASD without intellectual disability show a large deficit in composite processing speed versus IQ-matched controls on standardized measures — a broader claim this one bears on
• The article attributes the discrepancy with inspection-time studies to methodology, arguing standardized measures are sensitive enough to detect processing speed deficits in ASD — related
• Slower processing speed in adults with ASD is associated with greater impairment on ADOS Communication and Reciprocal Social Interaction scores — related
• Processing speed in adults with ASD shows no significant association with SAS-II social adjustment, and only a near-significant positive association with GAF functioning — related