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Updated: Oct 2, 2025
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Early Motor Signs in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Annio Posar1,2, Paola Visconti1
1IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOSI Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico, 40139 Bologna, Italy.
Insights
Early motor impairments in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are increasingly recognized. These motor delays and atypicalities can be crucial clues for early diagnosis and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Movement Science
Background:
- Emerging literature indicates early motor development deficits in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- These motor impairments may precede classic social communication symptoms of ASD.
- Early motor signs offer potential for timely diagnosis in high-risk infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated review of early motor function data in children with ASD.
- To highlight the significance of motor development in the early identification of ASD.
- To explore the relationship between motor skills and other developmental domains in ASD.
Main Methods:
- This study is a narrative review of existing literature.
- The review focuses on research concerning early motor development in autism spectrum disorder.
- Data on motor delays and atypical movements were synthesized.
Main Results:
- Early motor impairments in ASD manifest as developmental delays and atypical movements.
- Stereotyped movements, with or without objects, are more frequent in children with ASD.
- Motor and communication skills are interconnected, suggesting a potential pathogenetic role for motor dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Early motor signs are vital indicators for the potential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
- Interventions targeting early motor skill development may positively impact overall development in children with ASD.
- Addressing motor deficits is crucial for improving developmental trajectories in autism.
Abstract:
A growing number of literature data suggest the presence of early impairments in the motor development of children with autism spectrum disorder, which could be often recognized even before the appearance of the classical social communication deficits of autism. In this narrative review, we aimed at performing an update about the available data on the early motor function in children with autism spectrum disorder. Early motor impairment in these children can manifest itself both as a mere delay of motor development and as the presence of atypicalities of motor function, such as a higher rate and a larger inventory, of stereotyped movements both with and without objects. In the perspective of a timely diagnosis, the presence of early motor signs can be an important clue, especially in an individual considered at high risk for autism. Motor and communication (both verbal and non-verbal) skills are connected and a pathogenetic role of early motor dysfunctions in the development of autism can be hypothesized. From this, derives the importance of an early enabling intervention aimed at improving motor skills, which could also have favorable effects on other aspects of development.
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