Kids with autism often have difficulty with everyday activities like running and writing. Now, researchers say they’ve linked these motor skills troubles with the presence of autism itself.
The finding reported in the journal Autism offers firm evidence that motor skills difficulty is related to autism, not something that simply runs in families, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis said.
The study focused on 67 families, each including children with and without autism. Researchers observed the kids doing a variety of activities that rely on motor skills such as cutting with scissors, putting pegs in a pegboard and throwing a ball.
Of the children with autism, 83 percent exhibited below average motor skills. Meanwhile, just 6 percent of the siblings without the developmental disorder displayed less than average skills.
“From our results, it looks like motor impairments may be part of the autism diagnosis, rather than a trait genetically carried in the family,” said Claudia List Hilton, an assistant professor in occupational therapy at Washington University and the study’s lead author. “That suggests that motor impairments are a core characteristic of the diagnosis.”
What’s more, Hilton and her colleagues noted that the degree to which children with autism displayed difficulty with motor skills correlated with the severity of their autism and the extent of their social skills deficits.
“Kids who have difficulty with motor skills might have trouble with what we think are simple things like brushing their teeth, buttoning, snapping or starting a zipper — things that are so basic to being independent, but would cause other problems at school,” Hilton said. “They would need to have an aide or someone helping them, and that would set them off as different from the other kids.”
I don’t need an aide to help me (though it sure would be nice for some tasks) but I certainly do have a lot of motor skills issues. Enough to slow me down especially when it comes to doing home chores, getting ready for work, etc. And it does not get any better with age…I am a 54 year old female with Asperger Syndrome.
I wonder if, rather than being a core part of an autism diagnosis, motor impairments may be a sign of nervous system problems or differences in general. They are often seen in learning disabilities and ADHD also.
I have a 10 yr old boy with autism. His social skills and communication skills are poor but he has the best motor skills around. He is the most physically fit kid I know.
Is there a correlation between Autism and Dyspraxia and/or Dysgraphia?
I believe my son’s struggle to eliminate is largely due to sensory and gross motor issues. Wonder how many others have that insight. Enjoyed this article.
Here’s an observation from my teenage years, “You run like an old man.” However, with a whole lot of practice I could hit a baseball further than anyone else. So I got to play right field.
This is not news to parents of children with autism.
I’m with Alvena. This is not news to parents of children on the Spectrum. My son, now 12, had significant motor skill difficulties that were noticed around age 4. Writing is such a challenge, he uses an Alpha-Smart at school. Zipping, buttoning, using scissors…all very difficult. He was diagnosed with a co-morbid condition which is just as common. His particular one was visual processing disorder.
I myself have both Asperger’s/Autism & Cerebral Palsy. Until the last few years, I never needed AFO Leg Braces & Loftstrand Crutches to stand & walk. Anyway, I do now, & I am “almost” age 54. Out in the Midwest, I do know another Autistic with Cerebral Palsy, & an Autistic with Spina Bifida just outside of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
i have a 10 year old autistic boy he has been diagnosed with a mild to moderate case. although he is very smart when it comes to things hes interested in, but when there is no interest thats when i notice he tends to struggle, at the littliest of tasks.