Abstract

MOTOR SKILLS PROFILE OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND ITS ASSOCIATION TO SOCIALIZATION SKILLS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND SYMPTOM SEVERITY

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by core impairments in socialization and communication skills, alongside restricted and repetitive behaviors. Recent studies suggest that motor skills, essential for early exploration and learning, might be intrinsically linked to these core deficits. This study aims to explore the motor skills profile of children with ASD and its association with their socialization skills, communication skills, and symptom severity.

Objectives: This study aims to profile the motor skills of children with ASD and examine their association with socialization skills, communication skills, and symptom severity.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the Child Development Center of the National Children’s Hospital, targeting children diagnosed with ASD aged 1.6-5.11 years. Motor skills were assessed using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 (PDMS2), while socialization and communication skills were evaluated using the Battelle Developmental Inventory-2 Normative Update (BDI-2 NU). Symptom severity was determined using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale-2 ST (CARS-2 ST).

Results: The study found significant motor impairments (cumulative percentage of below average, poor and very poor for total motor, 85.84%) in children with ASD, with fine motor skills (79.3%) being more severely affected than gross motor skills (78.1%). There was a notable correlation between motor skills and both socialization (gross motor, r=.202, p=.002; fine motor, r=.381, p<.001) and communication skills (gross motor, r=.307, p<.001; fine motor, r=.133, p=.039), as well as with symptom severity (gross motor, poor OR=2.70, 95% CI (1.00-7.25), p=.049) and very poor (OR=5.82, 95% CI (1.57-21.59), p=.008), (fine motor, poor (OR=4.66, 95% CI (1.77-12.28), p=.002) and very poor (OR=13.60, 95% CI (6.11-30.28), p<.001). Multivariate analysis identified several significant associations with severity symptoms such as poor fine motor skills, older age, higher cognitive skills, better socialization skills and children whose fathers had a college-level education.

Conclusions: The results of this study show that motor impairments are significantly evident in children with autism spectrum disorder at the National Children’s Hospital, with their fine motor skills being more severely affected than their gross motor skills. The motor skills of these children are correlated with their socialization skills, communication skills and symptom severity. The results contribute to the growing body of literature on ASD, highlighting the need for integrated therapeutic strategies that address both motor and core autism-related deficits. The implications of this research are pivotal for developing comprehensive care plans that enhance the overall development and quality of life for children with ASD.

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