IQ and Sensory Symptom Severity Best Predict Motor Ability in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Olivia J Surgent, Matthew Walczak, Oskar Zarzycki and 2 others
PMID 32410096WHAT IT FOUND
Children with autism had lower motor scores than children in the typically developing or intermediate groups, but sensory symptom severity and IQ predicted motor ability better than diagnosis.
Assess sensory and cognitive factors before assuming motor problems follow from diagnosis alone.
Key findings
01Children in the ASD group had lower standardized motor scores than children in the INT and TD groups, and the INT and TD groups did not differ.
02Across the whole sample, more severe sensory symptoms and lower IQ were the best predictors of poorer motor performance.
03The model using individual differences in sensory symptoms and IQ predicted motor scores better than the model using diagnostic group status.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was observational and correlational, so it cannot show whether sensory symptoms or IQ cause motor difficulty. The groups were not matched on IQ, and the ASD group had lower IQ than the TD group. The motor test produced one overall score, not separate fine and gross motor results. Only children aged 6 to 10 were included, so findings may not apply to younger or older children. The intermediate group combined ADHD diagnosis and family history, so it is not one homogeneous clinical group. No treatment was tested.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the finding that sensory symptom severity and IQ predicted motor ability as proof that changing either will improve motor skills. The study was observational and tested no intervention.