La latéralité manuelle chez les enfants avec trouble du spectre de l’autisme : relations avec le niveau de communication

Abstract

ObjectiveAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by impairments in social interaction and communication, with the presence of restricted interests or repetitive behaviors. Another feature is that children with ASD show atypical handedness: whereas the majority of the human population use their right-hand in familiar tasks, people with ASD present a decreased degree of right-handedness and an increased rate of left-handedness and mixed handedness. The aim of this study was to examine and define the possible links between impairments in communication and handedness. MethodsHandedness was assessed by task performance (Auzias Task), and evaluation of communication was completed with three items (verbal communication, non-verbal communication and imitation) of Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) in 15 ASD children. ResultsResults show that impairment in communication was not linked with handedness. Nevertheless, data show that children often use both their hands simultaneously (10 of the 15 subjects in more that 40 % of the trials used both hands). This bimanual use is positively correlated to impairments in communication: the more the subject has mixed handedness, the more the subject has deficits on verbal, non-verbal communication and imitation; it could be interpreted as the manifestation of the degree of hemispheric specialization trouble. PerspectiveThis mixed handedness should be further explored, in particular to accurately examine temporal and spatial characteristics and could be used as a tracking indicator of autism.