Motor Skills and Calibrated Autism Severity in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

TLDR

Motor skill deficits are persistent and pervasive across age in individuals with ASD, yet they are rarely addressed in early intervention discussions. The study discusses future directions and the role of motor skills in early intervention. The authors evaluated 159 children aged 14–33 months, using a univariate general linear model to examine the relationship between fine and gross motor skills and calibrated autism severity. Fine and gross motor skills significantly predict calibrated autism severity, with weaker motor skills linked to greater social communicative deficits.

Abstract

In addition to the core characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), motor skill deficits are present, persistent, and pervasive across age. Although motor skill deficits have been indicated in young children with autism, they have not been included in the primary discussion of early intervention content. One hundred fifty-nine young children with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD ( n = 110), PDD-NOS ( n = 26), and non-ASD ( n = 23) between the ages of 14–33 months participated in this study. 1 The univariate general linear model tested the relationship of fine and gross motor skills and social communicative skills (using calibrated autism severity scores). Fine motor and gross motor skills significantly predicted calibrated autism severity ( p < .05). Children with weaker motor skills have greater social communicative skill deficits. Future directions and the role of motor skills in early intervention are discussed.