Study Shows Similar Improvement Rates in Executive Skills Despite Initial Delays, Stressing Importance of Early Interventions
A new meta-analysis published in Autism Research highlights that while children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience initial delays in executive functioning, their growth in these skills over time is comparable to that of neurotypical peers. The study, which pooled data from 14 longitudinal studies with a total of 518 individuals with ASD and 3,558 neurotypical participants, assessed various executive function domains, including working memory, inhibition, shifting, and planning. Although ASD individuals showed poorer scores in these areas both at baseline and follow-up, the rate of improvement did not significantly differ from that of neurotypical peers. These results emphasize that while early executive function delays are evident, appropriate early interventions can help individuals on the spectrum catch up developmentally, highlighting the need for proactive support and educational strategies.
