Evolution of Cognitive and Socio-Emotional Skills in an older Woman with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Severe Intellectual Disability Receiving Individualized Support Based on the CHIPPS Program: A Clinical Case Report

Older adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and severe intellectual disability (ID) require constant and regularly updated relational, social, and healthy support. This paper presents the evolution of cognitive and socio-emotional abilities in a 69-year-old female patient with this dual diagnosis (associated with epilepsy) who benefited from a personalized psycho-educative program. The program, which includes cognitive and social remediation sessions and daily individual coaching to promote personal autonomy, was implemented daily for two years (15 hours per week). Cognitive and socio-emotional development was assessed using the Social Cognitive Evaluation Battery adapted for Adults (SCEB-A) at intervention commencement (Time 1) and completion (Time 2; 24 months). An increase in abilities was noted in all cognitive and socio-emotional domains. Older individuals with ASD, severe ID, and epilepsy can make progress in cognitive and socio-emotional functioning through the regular application of a psycho-educative program. However, this study is limited due to the inclusion of a single participant, and thus, the results cannot be generalized to older adults with ASD and severe ID.