P. Suvannang et al. Journal of Associated Medical Sciences 2024; 57(1): 38-46 38 Journal of Associated Medical Sciences 2024; 57 (1): 38-46 Scopus Indexed & Thai-Journal Citaon Index Centre (TCI) Journal of Associated Medical Sciences Journal homepage: hps://www.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/bullenAMS/index Comparison of aberrant behavior profiles across different severity levels of ausm symptoms among Thai children aged 2-9 years with ausc spectrum disorder Prinne Suvannang 1 Chukorn Nopparat 2 Peeradech Thichanpiang 3 Sarun Kunwiaya 4 Nonthasruang Kleebpung 4 Anuchart Kaunnil 5* Kannika Permpoonpuana 4* 1 Master of Science Program in Human Development, Naonal Instute for Child and Family Development, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand 2 Innovave Learning Center, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand 3 Division of Occupaonal Therapy, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. 4 Naonal Instute for Child and Family Development, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. 5 Department of Occupaonal Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. ARTICLE INFO Arcle history: Received 6 June 2023 Accepted as revised 15 October 2023 Available online 26 October 2023 Keywords: Aberrant behaviors, ausm spectrum disorder, ausm severity, occupaonal therapy ABSTRACT Background: The incidence of ausm spectrum disorder (ASD) has been increasing steadily, thus posing a substanal public health concern in Thailand and globally. Individuals with ASD, who frequently experience challenges related to their behavior and emoons, have neurodevelopmental disorders. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) represents one available tool for addressing these issues. Objecves: This study aimed to explore and compare aberrant behavior profiles across different severity levels of ausm among Thai children aged 2-9 years with ASD. Materials and methods: The parcipants comprised 71 parents and young children with ASD, recruited online, parcularly from an online Facebook community of parents from diverse regions of Thailand. A convenience sampling method was employed for selecng the parcipants. The research tools consisted of 3 parts for collecng data. Demographic data were used for collecng such informaon about the parcipants. A Thai version of the Ausm Treatment Evaluaon Checklist (Thai- ATEC) was ulized to measure ausm symptom severity, and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC-C) Thai Version was used for evaluang behavioral problems from caregiver administraon. Results: A total of 71 ASD parcipants were idenfied, of which 5, 15, and 51 displayed mild, moderate, and severe symptoms of ASD, respecvely. The mean scores of aberrant behaviors, as assessed by the ABC-C Thai version, showed an increase across all four subscales and the total score in response to the severity levels of ASD symptoms. The study findings, including reported correlaons between aberrant behaviors and severity levels of ausm symptoms, revealed predominantly high correlaon coefficients (rs ranging from 0.27 to 0.93). Furthermore, a posive correlaon was idenfied between the four subscales of the Thai-ATEC assessment and the five subscales of the ABC-C Thai version, highlighng their interrelated nature. For more detailed analysis, the ASD parcipants were categorized into two groups: a “mild-moderate” group consisng of 20 parcipants and a “severe” group comprising 51 parcipants. Subsequently, a comparison was made between the mean scores of the ABC-C subscales and total scores. The results of this comparison demonstrated significant disncon in all five subscales and the total score of the ABC-C Thai version between the “mild-moderate” and “severe” groups of ASD parcipants. These findings shed light on the notable differences in aberrant behavior profiles between individuals with varying levels of ausm symptom severity. Journal of Associated Medical Sciences * Volume 55 Number 2 May - August 2022 E-ISSN: 2539-6056 Corresponding contributor. Author’s Address: Naonal Instute for Child and Family Development, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. Department of Occupaonal Therapy, Fac- ulty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Province, Thai- land. E-mail address: kannika.per@mahidol.ac.th, anuchart.kau@cmu.ac.th doi: 10.12982/JAMS.2024.005 E-ISSN: 2539-6056