Characterising the Early Presentation of Motor Difficulties in Autistic Children.

This Australian study looked at motor skills (like using hands or moving around) in over 500 autistic children aged 2-7. They found that many autistic children have motor difficulties - about 25-60% depending on the test used. Children who were late to sit up or walk as babies were more likely to have ongoing motor problems. The researchers suggest that noticing these early motor delays could help identify which children need extra support and monitoring.

This Australian study examined motor difficulties in 514 autistic children aged 2-7 years using standardized assessments. The research found significant rates of motor impairments: approximately 60% showed clinically significant motor difficulties on the Mullen Scales of Early Learning fine motor assessment, while 25% had impairments on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale motor subscale. Children with delayed sitting and walking milestones were significantly more likely to have parent-reported motor difficulties in early childhood. The findings suggest that early motor delays could serve as important indicators for identifying children who would benefit from ongoing developmental monitoring and early intervention support.

Early motor milestone delays may serve as important indicators for identifying autistic children requiring ongoing developmental monitoring. The high prevalence of motor difficulties supports routine motor assessment in autism evaluations. Different assessment tools may identify different aspects of motor impairment, suggesting comprehensive evaluation approaches.

The abstract does not specify study methodology, recruitment criteria, or control group comparisons. Different assessment tools showed varying impairment rates, suggesting measurement variability. Generalizability beyond Australian populations is unclear.

This study aimed to explore the rates of motor difficulties in children from the Australian Autism Biobank, and how early motor concerns impacted on children functionally. Children with autism aged 2-7 years, including 441 with a Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS-II) motor subscale and 385 with a Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) fine motor subscale were included (n total = 514; 80% male). Approximately 60% of children on the MSEL and ~ 25% on the VABS-II had clinically significant motor impairments. More children with delayed sitting and walking motor milestones had early childhood parent reported motor difficulties (p < 0.001).

Early motor delays or concerns may assist identifying individuals who will likely benefit from early ongoing developmental monitoring and early support.