Motor Development in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Area of Science:

• Developmental Pediatrics
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Motor Development

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviors.
• Motor delays, encompassing both gross and fine motor skills, are frequently observed in children with ASD but are often under-recognized.
• Understanding the specific motor profiles and age-related progression of these delays is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the gross and fine motor development of children with ASD to that of typically developing (TD) children.
• To investigate whether motor delays in children with ASD worsen with increasing age.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study design was employed, analyzing data from children aged 12-60 months.
• The Schedule of Growing Skills II (SGS II) was used to assess the developmental profiles of participants.
• Descriptive statistics were utilized to compare motor development between children with ASD and TD children.

Main Results:

• Children with ASD exhibited significant delays in gross motor skills (6.7%) and fine motor skills (38.5%).
• Typically developing children in the study did not present with motor delays.
• Motor delays in children with ASD were found to be more pronounced in older age groups.

Conclusions:

• Children with ASD demonstrate significant gross and fine motor delays compared to their TD peers.
• The severity of motor delay in ASD increases with age, underscoring the importance of age-appropriate assessments.
• Early identification of motor delays in children with ASD is essential for initiating early intervention services to improve developmental outcomes.