Impact of Autism Spectrum Disorder on Motor Development of Brazilian Preschool and School-Age Children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be identified in early childhood, often manifesting through motor delays, stereotyped behaviors, and atypical developmental profiles, with motor impairments frequently being among the earliest observable indicators. This study aimed to assess the motor development in preschool and school-age children, comparing those with ASD to neurotypical peers. The research focuses on evaluating the overall impact of ASD on motor development and examining specific motor domains. The study included 292 children (73% boys and 27% girls), aged 3 to 10 years. The sample was divided into two groups: the ASD and the neurotypical (NT) groups, with a ratio of 3:1, with three neurotypical children selected for every child with ASD. Motor development was assessed using the Motor Development Scale III (MDS III), which evaluates six specific domains: fine motor skills (FM), gross motor skills (GM), balance (BL), body schema (BS), spatial organization (SO), and temporal organization (TO). Children with ASD, both in the preschool and school-age groups, exhibited a significantly higher incidence of motor impairments across all evaluated motor domains compared to their neurotypical peers. Motor impairments in children with ASD are not only prominent during the preschool years but also tend to intensify as children transition into school age. These findings highlight the need for early identification and targeted interventions to address motor challenges in children with ASD.