Local-global processing approaches in older autistic adults: A matched control study using RCFT and WAIS-IV. (October 2020) - Davids, Roeliena C.D.
Highlights: Older autistic adults often need more time to execute a complex task compared to TD. Use quantitative and qualitative methods to study information processing in ASD. There is growing evidence that cognitive functioning is not impaired in late-diagnosed older adults. Abstract: Background: Research on information processing of older adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is scarce, which is a caveat because findings in children may not apply to (older) autistic adults. This study examines visual local-global processing approaches in older autistic adults. Method: The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT) is a popular measure of visual-constructional ability, organisational strategy and memory. In this matched-control study, we explore if the qualitative and quantitative performance on the RCFT can be used as an operationalisation of central coherence in autistic older adults (n = 36; ages 50−84 years), and whether RCFT performance associates with autism-symptoms. WAIS-IV scores were also obtained to test for local-global differences in performance. Results: No evidence was found for deviating processing approaches on the RCFT (both quantitative and qualitative) in the ASD group, although copying the RCFT was significantly slower. The WAIS-IV showed no differences between participant-groups, except for a significantly better performance on Visual Puzzles by autistic participants. Conclusions: Using visual local-global processing tests common to clinical practice, this study provides no evidence for a weak central coherence but some support for enhanced perceptual functioning in late-diagnosed high functioning older autistic adults. There was no evidence for altered strategic approaches during the completion of a complex visual information processing task (RCFT). Combining a quantitative and a qualitative scoring system of visual information processing tasks (such as RCFT) can elucidate the preferred visual information processing style in autistic individuals.