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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Motor skills of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders
Meghann Lloyd1, Megan MacDonald, Catherine Lord
1University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. meghann.lloyd@uoit.ca
Insights
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show significant delays in gross and fine motor skills. These motor skill deficits increase with age, highlighting the need for early intervention in autism treatment.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Motor Skill Development
Background:
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
- Motor skill development in very young children with ASD is an area of growing research interest.
- Understanding motor skill trajectories in early childhood ASD is essential for targeted support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the gross and fine motor skills of young children with ASD.
- To analyze the progression of motor skill differences in children with ASD over time.
- To investigate the relationship between chronological age and motor skill deficits in ASD.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 162 children with ASD (12-36 months).
- Longitudinal follow-up of 58 children with ASD.
- Calculation of 'motor difference' using age equivalent and chronological age scores.
- Statistical analysis including ANCOVA and post-hoc tests.
Main Results:
- Significant group differences in gross and fine motor skills were found in children with ASD.
- Motor skill differences in ASD significantly increased with chronological age.
- Longitudinal data showed a significant increase in motor difference scores over time.
Conclusions:
- Motor development is a key area of concern for children with ASD.
- Early intervention programs should prioritize addressing motor skill deficits in ASD.
- The findings underscore the importance of monitoring and supporting motor development in early ASD intervention.
Abstract:
With increased interest in the early diagnosis and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), more attention has been called to the motor skills of very young children with ASD. This study describes the gross and fine motor skills of a cross-sectional group of 162 children with ASD between the ages of 12 and 36 months, as well as a subset of 58 children followed longitudinally. Gross motor and fine motor age equivalent scores were obtained for all children. A 'motor difference' variable was calculated for each child's gross and fine motor skills by taking the absolute difference of the children's age equivalent motor score and their respective chronological age. In Study 1 (the cross-sectional analysis), ANCOVA (co-varied for nonverbal problem solving) revealed significant group differences in the gross motor and fine motor age difference variables. Post-hoc analysis revealed that gross motor and fine motor differences became significantly greater with each 6-month period of chronological age. In Study 2, 58 children were measured twice, an average of 12 months apart. Results indicate that the gross motor and fine motor difference scores significantly increased between the first and second measurements. The importance of addressing motor development in early intervention treatments is discussed.
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