The Reliability of Field-Based Static and Dynamic Balance Tests in Primary School-Aged Autistic Children

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Motor Control and Biomechanics

Background:

• Autistic children often exhibit poorer balance compared to neurotypical peers.
• Reliability of balance assessments in autistic children remains under-researched.
• Understanding balance assessment reliability is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of field-based static and dynamic balance tests in autistic children.
• To determine the necessary familiarization sessions for reliable balance testing.
• To investigate the influence of autistic severity on balance test reliability.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen primary school-aged autistic children participated.
• Balance was assessed thrice weekly for five weeks.
• Tests included: Flamingo Balance Test, modified Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), Low Beam Walking Test, and Heel-to-Toe Walking Test.

Main Results:

• Inter-session reliability was achieved for all tested balance assessments.
• The Flamingo Balance Test required the fewest familiarization sessions.
• The Heel-to-Toe Walking Test and modified BESS achieved reliability within an acceptable timeframe.
• The Low Beam Walking Test required more familiarization sessions for reliable assessment.

Conclusions:

• Field-based balance tests can be reliably administered to autistic children.
• Familiarization needs vary across different balance tests.
• Practitioners should consider the reported coefficients of variance when designing balance interventions for autistic children.