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

This study looked at movement skills in 292 Brazilian children aged 3-10, comparing kids with autism to those without. Children with autism had more difficulty with all types of movement skills - like using their hands, balancing, and understanding their body in space. These movement challenges were present in younger children with autism and seemed to get worse as they got older. The research shows that movement problems are often early signs of autism that parents and doctors should watch for.

This Brazilian cross-sectional study compared motor development between 292 children aged 3-10 years (73 with ASD, 219 neurotypical controls) using the Motor Development Scale III. Children with ASD demonstrated significantly higher rates of motor impairments across all six evaluated domains: fine motor skills, gross motor skills, balance, body schema, spatial organization, and temporal organization. Motor difficulties were present in both preschool and school-age groups with ASD, with impairments appearing to intensify during the transition to school age. The findings emphasize that motor delays are prominent early indicators of ASD and persist throughout childhood development, supporting the need for early identification and targeted motor interventions.

Early motor assessment should be prioritized in ASD screening and diagnosis. Targeted motor interventions are needed throughout childhood, with particular attention during school transition periods. Motor development monitoring can serve as an important early indicator for ASD identification, supporting earlier intervention implementation.

The abstract does not specify the study design or methodology details. Sample size distribution between ASD and control groups is unclear (3:1 ratio mentioned but exact numbers not provided). No information about diagnostic criteria, severity levels, or potential confounding variables is included.

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.