Case study: cross-gender preoccupations with two male children with autism.

Persons with autism frequently exhibit circumscribed interests and unusual preoccupations. In this case study, two young males with autism are presented who have preoccupations with feminine gender-stereotyped activities and objects. These types of preoccupations in children with autism have not been reported in the literature, but may be more prevalent than realized due to parental underreporting given the negative stigma associated with feminine interests in young boys. The development of gender identity in young children with autism has rarely been addressed in the literature. It seems unlikely that these two cases can be categorized as gender identity disorders. Understanding these preoccupations in the context of autism rather than focusing on the gender identity issues has important implications for treatment. These cases point to the need for further study of the complex interplay of environmental and neurobiologic factors affecting gender identity roles and preoccupations in autism.

Differential validity of the K-ABC for lower functioning preschool children versus those of higher ability.

The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Form L-M, were administered to 93 preschool children at risk for learning problems. Lower and higher functioning groups were determined by a Stanford-Binet IQ median split. Although the Stanford-Binet and K-ABC yielded nearly identical results in the higher group, K-ABC standard scores were significantly higher than Stanford-Binet IQ in the lower group. The Stanford-Binet and K-ABC correlated more strongly in the higher group than in the lower group. These findings question the ability of the K-ABC to discriminate among at-risk preschoolers functioning in the lower ranges of cognitive ability.