Relationship Between Sustained, Selective and Shifting Attention and Behavioral Symptoms in Children With High-Functioning Autism

Abstract

Background: The association of autism symptoms and cognitive abilities can facilitate the etiology and treatment of autism disorders. Destruction of executive functions is one of the several potential cognitive phenotypes in autism. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between deficit executive functions and behavioral symptoms in children with high-functioning autism. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 50 children with high-functioning autism were selected using the convenience sampling method. The Gilliam autism rating scale, high-functioning autism spectrum screening questionnaire, The Stroop color and word test, continuous performance test and shifting attention test were administered. Pearson correlation coefficient and multi-variant regression were used to analyze the data. Results: There was a positive correlation between selective attention with communication and social interactions (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between sustained attention with social interactions and stereotyped behaviors (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). Moreover, there also was a positive correlation between shifting attention and communication, social interactions and stereotyped behaviors (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001). The results of regression analysis showed that selective attention and shifting attention can predict communication (P < 0.01). Sustained attention can predict social interactions and stereotyped behaviors (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that executive functions play an important role in symptoms of children with high-functioning autism. It is recommended to design new therapeutic interventions to restore executive functions in children with highfunctioning autism.