Association between motor coordination and core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To study the relationship between motor coordination, social communication impairment, and restricted/repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).@*Methods@#A total of 123 ASD children aged 2-12 were recruited from rehabilitation service institutions for autistic children in Guangzhou, including 105 boys and 18 girls. The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, Social Communication Questionnaire, and Restrictive Behavior Scale Revised were collected to measure motor coordination, social communication skills and RRBs, respectively. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the association between motor coordination and core symptoms.@*Results@#In children aged 2-5 years old, those without motor coordination deficits scored lower in social interaction (7.73±4.00) than others (9.76±2.90)( Z=-2.29, P <0.05). In children aged 6-12 years old, those without motor coordination deficits scored lower in restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior (4.22±1.93), repetitive sensory-motor behaviors (3.91±2.63), and insistence on sameness (13.52±10.59) than those with motor coordination deficits (6.11±1.54, 14.00±8.49, 31.33±15.05)( Z=-2.48, -3.83, -3.28, P <0.01)。Multiple linear regression analysis showed that fine motor/handwriting and control during movement were negatively correlated with the severity of social communication impairment and RRBs respectively among children aged 2-5 and 6-12( β=-0.85--0.03, -2.98--0.17, P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#Among autistic children, those with motor deficits suffered from more severe core symptoms. Motor assessment should be included in the ASD screening, diagnosis and management. Motor intervention should also be promoted in the rehabilitation in order to improve the prognosis and life quality.