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Motor characteristics of young children referred for possible autism spectrum disorder

Alison Lane1, Karen Harpster, Jill Heathcock

  • 1Division of Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Medical Professions, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.

Pediatric Physical Therapy : the Official Publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association
|December 31, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Infants referred for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) evaluations often show delays in gross and fine motor skills. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III) may not differentiate between children with or without ASD.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
  • Early identification and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes in children with ASD.
  • Motor skill development is an important aspect of early childhood development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the motor characteristics of young children evaluated for ASD.
  • To assess motor development using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 30 children (mean age 31.57 ± 6 months) referred to an autism evaluation clinic.
  • Analysis of BSID-III scores to evaluate gross and fine motor skills.

Main Results:

  • Children referred for ASD evaluation exhibited mean delays of 6 months in gross motor skills and 8 months in fine motor skills.
  • No significant differences in BSID-III total scores or item analysis were found between children with and without an ASD diagnosis.

Conclusions:

  • Early delays in fine and gross motor skills are characteristic of infants referred to ASD clinics.
  • The BSID-III may lack the sensitivity to differentiate motor characteristics between referred children with and without ASD.
Abstract

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