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

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 highfunctioning autism. It is recommended to design new therapeutic interventions to restore executive functions in children with highfunctioning autism.