Physiotherapists Identify Movement Difficulties in Autistic Children Using Subjective and Objective Measures: An...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric physiotherapy
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessment
• Child development

Background:

• Movement difficulties are prevalent in autistic children.
• Early identification and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes in autistic children.
• Understanding current physiotherapy assessment practices is vital for optimizing care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the assessment practices and identification of movement difficulties in autistic children (12 months to 6 years) by physiotherapists in Australia.
• To document the range of movement challenges commonly observed in this population.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to registered physiotherapists in Australia via social media.
• The survey collected data on assessment strategies, measurement tools, and identified movement difficulties.
• 85 physiotherapists completed the survey between March and June 2022.

Main Results:

• Parent reports, observations, and movement analyses were universally used assessment strategies.
• Musculoskeletal and standardized assessments were employed by 80% and 50% of physiotherapists, respectively.
• Commonly identified movement difficulties included developmental delays (86%), gross motor issues (85%), coordination problems (82%), motor planning deficits (81%), and hypotonia (80%).

Conclusions:

• Physiotherapists utilize diverse methods to assess movement difficulties in young autistic children.
• These movement challenges are frequently identified early in life, potentially preceding an autism diagnosis.
• Findings highlight the significant role of physiotherapy in the early identification of developmental variations in autism.