Fine Motor Ability and Executive Function in Autistic and Non-autistic Toddlers

Examining early development is paramount to understanding neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism. Executive functioning (EF) and motor skills are central to development in general and are often co-occurring areas of concern with functional impact for autistic children. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between fine motor (FM) skills and EF in very young children with and without a diagnosis of autism.

Forty-nine two-year-old children with (n = 27) and without (n = 22) a diagnosis of autism who were recruited as a part of a larger study participated in an in-person assessment while their caregivers completed rating scales.

The results indicated that, when controlling for overall cognitive ability, caregivers reported that their autistic toddlers showed significantly greater challenges with inhibition and shifting as compared to neurotypical (NT) peers. Additionally, for both autistic and NT children, FM ability significantly predicted caregiver-reported scores on ability to shift between tasks. This effect was not present for inhibition, emotional control, working memory, or planning/organization.

These results provide further evidence of a relationship between EF and FM and support continued examination of the interconnection of these skills in early development for both autistic and NT children.