Effects of Motor Intervention Program on Academic Skills, Motor Skills and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Gülsüm Hatipoğlu Özcan, Dilara Fatoş Özer, Salih Pınar
PMID 38755489WHAT IT FOUND
A 12-week motor program improved gross motor skills, pre-academic concepts like colors and numbers, and social cooperation in autistic preschoolers.
The intervention group showed significantly lower autistic index scores and fewer behavioral problems compared to the control group.
Key findings
01The experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in balance, locomotor, and manipulative skills, as well as total gross motor scores, compared to the control group.
02Participants in the motor intervention program achieved significantly higher scores in pre-academic skills, specifically in color, dimension, and number subtests, compared to the control group.
03The intervention group demonstrated significant positive changes in social skills, including cooperation and self-control, and a reduction in externalized and internalized behaviors compared to the control group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study lacked a follow-up period to assess the long-term retention of skills. The control group continued with routine special education, which itself included some movement and academic components, potentially narrowing the observed difference. The sample size was relatively small (n=34) and limited to children aged 3-6 years in Istanbul. The intervention was delivered by the first author, which may introduce bias if blinding was not strictly maintained.
Declared interests
The study was funded by Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University. No other conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the motor program directly improved communication skills. The study found no significant difference in communication subscores between the groups, meaning the benefits were primarily in motor, pre-academic, and behavioral/social domains.