RESUMO
Objective:To evaluate the development of children 2-4 years old with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) using the Chinese version of the Griffiths Development Scales (GDS-C).Methods:Eighty-eight children with ASD, 80 children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and 82 healthy children aged 2-4 were evaluated using the GDS-C. They were compared and their development in sports, personal and social relationships, language, hand-eye coordination and other performance were analyzed. The personal-social and language results of the ASD and DLD children were compared.Results:No significant differences were found between the ASD and DLD children in their language development. The development quotient of the ASD children was significantly lower, on average, than those of the DLD and healthy children in all fields except language. However, the ASD children′s development was not balanced. Their average developmental quotients in the language and the personal-social fields were significantly lower than in the sports, performance and hand-eye coordination fields. In the field of language, the entry loss rates of the two structural modes of receptive language and non-verbal expression of the ASD children were significantly higher than the DLD children′s averages. In the personal-social field the entry loss rates of communication and housework skills and of self-care skill were significantly higher than the DLD children′s averages. The command structure model of the ASD children was also superior, on average.Conclusions:The GDS-C can effectively assess the development of ASD children aged 2-4, especially in terms of language and personal and social skills. It can provide clinical evidence useful for early diagnosis and intervention for children with ASD.