The relationship of motor skills and adaptive behavior skills in young children with autism spectrum disorders

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ObjectiveTo determine the relationship of motor skills and adaptive behavior skills in young children with autism. DesignA multiple regression analysis tested the relationship of motor skills on the adaptive behavior composite, daily living, adaptive social and adaptive communicative skills holding constant age, non-verbal problem solving, and calibrated autism severity. SettingMajority of the data collected took place in an autism clinic. ParticipantsA cohort of 233 young children with ASD (n=172), PDD-NOS (n=22) and non-ASD (developmental delay, n=39) between the ages of 14–49 months were recruited from early intervention studies and clinical referrals. Children with non-ASD (developmental delay) were included in this study to provide a range of scores indicted through calibrated autism severity. InterventionsNot applicable. Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome measures in this study were adaptive behavior skills. ResultsFine motor skills significantly predicted all adaptive behavior skills (p<0.01). Gross motor skills were predictive of daily living skills (p<0.05). Children with weaker motor skills displayed greater deficits in adaptive behavior skills. ConclusionsThe fine and gross motor skills are significantly related to adaptive behavior skills in young children with autism spectrum disorder. There is more to focus on and new avenues to explore in the realm of discovering how to implement early intervention and rehabilitation for young children with autism and motor skills need to be a part of the discussion.