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¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · associational r1–r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2018 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 2 of 2 entries) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? The correlation between processing speed and SAS-II scores in the ASD group was not significant. → Haigh Sarah M. 2018 q3 i? The positive association between processing speed and GAF scores was nearing significance (r = .24, p = .06). → Haigh Sarah M. 2018 (2)

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 · i? · associational · r2

Correlational analysis in the ASD sample of processing speed composite against the Social Adjustment Scale-II; the article reports no significant relationship. The authors suggest processing speed may contribute more to communication and reciprocal social interaction deficits than to social disability generally.

"However, no significant relationships were observed between processing speed and social adjustment impairments on the SAS-II."

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 · i? · associational · r1

Correlational analysis of processing speed composite against Global Assessment of Functioning scores among the 58 adults with ASD who had GAF data; the article reports "r (57) = .24, p = .06", a near-significant positive association, with no effect size beyond the correlation.

"There was a positive association that was nearing significance with participants’ processing speed composite scores and their GAF scores, r (57) = .24, p = .06, indicating better processing speed was associated with higher levels of functioning."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Processing Speed — 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 — related
• The processing speed deficit in adults with ASD appears on each of the three standardized subtests: Trail Making A, Symbol Coding, and Category Fluency — related
• In healthy controls, the processing speed–SAS-II association is not significant once IQ is accounted for — related
• Slower processing speed in adults with ASD is associated with greater impairment on ADOS Communication and Reciprocal Social Interaction scores — related
• 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