Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) represent a variable neurodevelopmental disorder. Recent studies indicate that motor impairments may be the first sign of atypical development in ASD. However, measurement of motor function in ASD has lagged behind other behavioural phenotyping. The aim of the present study was to examine the motor function of young children with ASD, aged 4 to 6 years old, in comparison to two groups of age-matched intellectually disabled (ID) and typically developing (TD) children. In total, 60 children, (20 ASD, 20 ID and 20 TD) aged 4 to 6 years old participated in the study. The motor skills of the participants were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) and 7 clinical tests on fine and gross motor skills as well as on balance. Children with ASD had statistically significant lower performance than the TD children and children with ID in tests that examine gross motor skills and balance. Additionally, both ASD and ID groups presented significantly lower performance than TD group in fine motor tasks, but there was no significant difference between the clinical groups. This study highlighted the specificity of motor impairment in ASD children comparing their performances with a clinical group (ID) and a non-clinical group (TD). Our findings, align with previous studies which support specific motor impairments of children with ASD. These findings could contribute to a better understanding of the specific and subtle motor impairments in ASD. Additionally, they can serve as markers of early diagnosis, clinical stratification, and treatment targets.

Authors:
Fotini Tsiftzi, University of Thessaly, Greece
Filippos Vlachos, University of Thessaly, Greece
Despoina Papoudi, University of Thessaly, Greece
Elias Avramidis, University of Thessaly, Greece
Plousia Misailidi, University of Ioannina, Greece

About the Presenter(s)
Ms FOTINI TSIFTZI is a University Doctoral Student at university of thessaly in Greece

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