Posted by Rosie Reeves on May 9, 2014 · 1 Comment
In yet another newly discovered early sign of autism, researchers from Oregon State University have shown that motor skill deficiencies are present in very young children with autism. The study is the first to show how the severity of the delay may also correlate with the severity of a child’s autism. Both fine and gross motor skills may be affected, however the child’s intelligence is usually not affected.
Fine and gross motor skills should be addressed as part of an early treatment plan for children with autism. Lead researcher Meghan McDonald believes that improvements in these areas will help the child’s brain overcome other challenges of autism. Improvements of any kind will certainly help the child feel accomplished, less frustrated and contribute to overall quality of life and well-being.
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Editor’s Note: The study titled “Motor Skills and Calibrated Autism Severity in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder” was published in the April 2014 issue of the journal Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. An overview of the study can be found here.
