Handwriting in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review

Handwriting is linked to a variety of systems in the human brain and has been likewise demonstrated to be affected by a variety of neurological and developmental disorders. In this paper we provide a narrative review of recent findings regarding the quantitative evaluation of handwriting product in people with autism spectrum disorder. We summarize the experimental approaches and variables measured by most representative studies, such as handwriting speed and quality. We highlight the key issues such as small sample sizes resulting in underpowered designs. Lastly, we draw conclusions and delineate potential research directions, such as the use of machine learning to evaluate multivariate components of handwriting.