B-51: Prototypic Autism Spectrum Disorder scores on the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System From a Clinical Sample

Abstract

Objective: The Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) is one of the most frequently used measures of executive functioning in neuropsychological assessment, yet its psychometric and theoretical applicability to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) populations remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to elucidate a prototypic D-KEFS profile of an individual with ASD. Method/Data Selection: Data were extracted rom patient profiles from outpatient psychotherapy neuropsychological assessments for descriptive analysis and interpretation. Of the forty-six participants, 55.3% were male, 36.2% were female, 4.3% were nonbinary, and 2.1% were listed as unknown. Age ranges included for analysis range from 88.0 months to 600.0 months. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted yielding prototypic scores included in the results/data synthesis below. Results/Data Synthesis: Prototypic results from analysis: Color (m=10.43), Word (m= 11.0), Inhibition (m= 11.8), Switching (m= 11.2), Switching errors (m=9.56), Verbal Fluency (m= 10.7), Verbal Phonemic (m=9.3, Verbal Semantic (m=9.9), Visual Fluency (m=9.8), Visual Filled (m=7.27), Visual Empty (m= 7.4), Visual Set Loss (m=2.9), Tower (m= 10.8), Twenty Questions (m=10.9), Trail 1 (m=10.8), Trail 2 (m= 10.4), Trail 4 (m=10.3), Trail 5 (m = 11.5). Conclusions: Overall, the means fell largely within the average range, with occasional scores falling below average in visual fluencies and set loss subtests, therefore highlighting a potential for modality-specific vulnerabilities that may warrant further investigation.