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Wang SH, Zhou Q, Chen KY, Ceng CQ, Zhan GD, You C, Xing Y, Zou YY, Deng HZ. Cognitive-adaptive Functioning Gap and Mediating Factors that Impact Adaptive Functioning in Chinese Preschool-aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:3107-3121. [PMID: 37326789 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06029-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the gap between adaptive functioning and cognitive functioning, especially verbal and nonverbal intelligence quotient (IQ) in Chinese children with ASD. We systematically explored cognitive functioning, ASD severity, early signs of developmental abnormalities, and socioeconomic factors as mediating factors of adaptive functioning. We enrolled 151 children (age: 2.5?6 years) with ASD and categorized them into one group with IQ ≥ 70 and another with IQ < 70. The two groups were calibrated for age, age at diagnosis, and IQ, and the relationship of adaptive skills with vocabulary acquisition index (VAI) and nonverbal index (NVI) were separately analyzed. Results show that the gap between IQ and adaptive functioning was significant in children with ASD having IQ ≥ 70, with both VAI and NVI showing statistically significant differences (all P < 0.001). VAI correlated positively with scores for overall adaptive skills and specific domains, whereas NVI had no significant correlations with adaptive skill scores. Age of first walking unaided had an independent positive correlation (all P < 0.05) with scores of adaptive skills and specific domains. IQ-adaptive functioning gap is significant in children with ASD having IQ ≥ 70, suggesting that defining "high-functioning autism" merely on the basis of IQ is not appropriate. Verbal IQ and early signs of motor development are specific and possible predictors of adaptive functioning in children with ASD, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Huan Wang
- Child Developmental and Behavioral Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No.600, Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| | - Qing Zhou
- Department of Nursing, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China
| | - Kai-Yun Chen
- Child Developmental and Behavioral Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No.600, Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Chao-Qun Ceng
- Child Developmental and Behavioral Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No.600, Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Guo-Dong Zhan
- Child Developmental and Behavioral Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No.600, Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Cong You
- Child Developmental and Behavioral Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No.600, Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yu Xing
- Child Developmental and Behavioral Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No.600, Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zou
- Child Developmental and Behavioral Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No.600, Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Hong-Zhu Deng
- Child Developmental and Behavioral Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No.600, Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
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Skaletski EC, Cardona SC, Travers BG. The relation between specific motor skills and daily living skills in autistic children and adolescents. Front Integr Neurosci 2024; 18:1334241. [PMID: 38841108 PMCID: PMC11150622 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2024.1334241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Motor skill difficulties are common in autistic children and are related to daily living skills (DLS). However, it remains unclear which specific motor tasks are most likely to impact overall DLS. This study sought to fill this gap. Methods and results In 90 autistic children and adolescents (ages 6-17 years), we found that fine/manual motor tasks, like drawing or folding, demonstrated significant medium-sized relations with DLS, even after accounting for IQ and sensory features, whereas tasks in the areas of bilateral coordination, upper-limb coordination, and balance only related to DLS (small effect sizes) prior to accounting for IQ and sensory features. When looking at an overall balance score, we found that IQ significantly interacted on the relation between overall balance and DLS. Discussion These results further demonstrate the particular importance of fine/manual motor skills for DLS in autistic youth, even when accounting for IQ and sensory features. Indeed, accounting for sensory features strengthened the relations between fine/manual motor skills and DLS. Our findings provide evidence of the impact of cognitive factors on the relation between balance and DLS, indicating that it may be that autistic individuals with lower IQs experience relations between balance and DLS that are different than their peers with higher IQs. Our findings support the benefit of considering individual motor skills rather than domain-level information when assessing ways to promote DLS in autistic youth. The results further shed light on the importance of fine motor skills, as well as the unique relationship of balance and DLS in autistic individuals with lower IQs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily C. Skaletski
- Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Sailery Cortes Cardona
- Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Brittany G. Travers
- Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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Valero-Cuevas FJ, Finley J, Orsborn A, Fung N, Hicks JL, Huang HH, Reinkensmeyer D, Schweighofer N, Weber D, Steele KM. NSF DARE-Transforming modeling in neurorehabilitation: Four threads for catalyzing progress. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2024; 21:46. [PMID: 38570842 PMCID: PMC10988973 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-024-01324-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
We present an overview of the Conference on Transformative Opportunities for Modeling in Neurorehabilitation held in March 2023. It was supported by the Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering (DARE) program from the National Science Foundation's Engineering Biology and Health Cluster. The conference brought together experts and trainees from around the world to discuss critical questions, challenges, and opportunities at the intersection of computational modeling and neurorehabilitation to understand, optimize, and improve clinical translation of neurorehabilitation. We organized the conference around four key, relevant, and promising Focus Areas for modeling: Adaptation & Plasticity, Personalization, Human-Device Interactions, and Modeling 'In-the-Wild'. We identified four common threads across the Focus Areas that, if addressed, can catalyze progress in the short, medium, and long terms. These were: (i) the need to capture and curate appropriate and useful data necessary to develop, validate, and deploy useful computational models (ii) the need to create multi-scale models that span the personalization spectrum from individuals to populations, and from cellular to behavioral levels (iii) the need for algorithms that extract as much information from available data, while requiring as little data as possible from each client (iv) the insistence on leveraging readily available sensors and data systems to push model-driven treatments from the lab, and into the clinic, home, workplace, and community. The conference archive can be found at (dare2023.usc.edu). These topics are also extended by three perspective papers prepared by trainees and junior faculty, clinician researchers, and federal funding agency representatives who attended the conference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Valero-Cuevas
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, 1042 Downey Way, Los Angeles, 90089, CA, USA.
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, 1540 Alcazar St 155, Los Angeles, 90033, CA, USA.
- Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science, University of Southern California, 941 Bloom Walk, Los Angeles, 90089, CA, USA.
| | - James Finley
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, 1540 Alcazar St 155, Los Angeles, 90033, CA, USA
| | - Amy Orsborn
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington, 185 W Stevens Way NE, Box 352500, Seattle, 98195, WA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE, Box 355061, Seattle, 98195, WA, USA
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, 3018 Western Ave, Seattle, 98121, WA, USA
| | - Natalie Fung
- Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science, University of Southern California, 941 Bloom Walk, Los Angeles, 90089, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Hicks
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
| | - He Helen Huang
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University, 1840 Entrepreneur Dr Suite 4130, Raleigh, 27606, NC, USA
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 333 S Columbia St, Chapel Hill, 27514, NC, USA
| | - David Reinkensmeyer
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCI Samueli School of Engineering, 3225 Engineering Gateway, Irvine, 92697, CA, USA
| | - Nicolas Schweighofer
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, 1042 Downey Way, Los Angeles, 90089, CA, USA
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, 1540 Alcazar St 155, Los Angeles, 90033, CA, USA
| | - Douglas Weber
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, B12 Scaife Hall, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA
| | - Katherine M Steele
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, 3900 E Stevens Way NE, Box 352600, Seattle, 98195, WA, USA
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Lin LY, Hwang IT, Hsu CF, Yu WH, Lai PC, Chen YW, Tu YF. Comparing fine motor performance among young children with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and specific developmental disorder of motor function. Front Pediatr 2024; 12:1372980. [PMID: 38562136 PMCID: PMC10982319 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1372980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The acquisition of fine motor skills is considered to be a crucial developmental milestone throughout early childhood. This study aimed to investigate the fine motor performance of young children with different disability diagnoses. Methods We enrolled a sample of 1,897 young children under the age of 6 years who were at risk of developmental delays and were identified by a transdisciplinary team. A series of standardized developmental assessments included the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-Third Edition, Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition, Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-Second Edition, and Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition were used. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted on all children to identify specific developmental disorders. The number of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), comorbidity, motor dysfunction, and unspecified developmental delays (DD) were 363 (19.1%), 223 (11.8%), 234 (12.3%), 285 (15.0%), 128 (6.7%), and 590 (31.1%), respectively. Results Young children with ID, comorbidity, and motor dysfunction demonstrated significant difficulty in performing manual dexterity and visual motor integration tasks and scored significantly lower in these areas than children with ASD, ADHD, and unspecified DD. In addition, fine motor performance was associated with cognitive ability in children with different disability diagnoses, indicating that young children showed better fine motor performance when they demonstrated better cognitive ability. Conclusion Our findings support that differences in fine motor performance differ by disability type. Close links between fine motor performance and cognitive ability in children under the age of 6 years were seen in all disability types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yi Lin
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - I-Ting Hwang
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Fen Hsu
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hao Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chun Lai
- Educational Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Wen Chen
- Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fang Tu
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Skaletski EC, Barry K, Dennis E, Donnelly R, Huerta C, Jones A, Schmidt K, Kabakov S, Ausderau KK, Li JJ, Travers BG. Sensorimotor Features and Daily Living Skills in Autistic Children With and Without ADHD. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-024-06256-y. [PMID: 38443659 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06256-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) commonly co-occurs in autistic children. However, additional research is needed to explore the differences in motor skills and sensory features in autistic children with and without ADHD, as well as the impacts of these factors on daily living skills (DLS). This observational study sought to fill this gap with 67 autistic children (6.14-10.84 years-old), 43 of whom had ADHD. Autistic children with ADHD demonstrated higher sensory features and lower motor skills than autistic children without ADHD. In examining autism and ADHD features dimensionally, we found that overall sensory features, seeking, and hyporesponsiveness were driven by both autism and ADHD features, whereas motor skills, enhanced perception, and hyperresponsiveness were driven by only autism features. Additionally, in using these dimensional variables of autism and ADHD features, we found that differences in motor skills, sensory and autism features, but not ADHD features, impact DLS of autistic children, with autism features and motor skills being the strongest individual predictors of DLS. Together, these results demonstrate the uniqueness of motor skills and sensory features in autistic children with and without ADHD, as well as how autism features, sensory features, and motor skills contribute to DLS, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive understanding of each individual and complexities of human development when supporting autistic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily C Skaletski
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Kelly Barry
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin- Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Elizabeth Dennis
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin- Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Ryan Donnelly
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin- Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Celina Huerta
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin- Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Andrez Jones
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin- Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Kate Schmidt
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin- Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Sabrina Kabakov
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin- Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Karla K Ausderau
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin- Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - James J Li
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1202 W Johnson St, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Brittany G Travers
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin- Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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Miller HL, Licari MK, Bhat A, Aziz-Zadeh LS, Van Damme T, Fears NE, Cermak SA, Tamplain PM. Motor problems in autism: Co-occurrence or feature? Dev Med Child Neurol 2024; 66:16-22. [PMID: 37332143 PMCID: PMC10725993 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.15674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Motor features of autism have long been acknowledged by clinicians, researchers, and community stakeholders. Current DSM-5 and ICD-11 guidelines allow clinicians to assign a co-occurring diagnosis of developmental [motor] coordination disorder (DCD) for autistic individuals with significant motor problems. DCD is characterized by poor motor proficiency with an onset of symptoms in early development. Studies have shown considerable overlap in the behavioral motor features observed in autism and DCD. However, others indicate that motor problems in autism and DCD may stem from different underlying sensorimotor mechanisms. Regardless of whether autism has a unique motor phenotype or an overlap with DCD, changes need to be made in the clinical pipeline to address motor problems in autism at the stages of recognition, assessment, diagnosis, and intervention. Consensus is needed to address unmet needs in research on the etiology of motor problems in autism and their overlap with DCD, to optimize clinical practice guidelines. The development of screening and assessment tools for motor problems that are valid and reliable for use with autistic individuals is essential, and an evidence-based clinical pipeline for motor problems in autism is urgently needed. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Motor problems in autism are highly prevalent, yet underdiagnosed and poorly managed. An evidence-based clinical pipeline for motor problems in autism is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haylie L. Miller
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Melissa K. Licari
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Anjana Bhat
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Lisa S. Aziz-Zadeh
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Chan Division of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tine Van Damme
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicholas E. Fears
- School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Sharon A. Cermak
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Fears NE, Chatterjee R, Tamplain PM, Miller HL. Harvesting Twitter Data for Studying Motor Behavior in Disabled Populations: An Introduction and Tutorial in Python. JOURNAL OF MOTOR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT 2023; 11:555-570. [PMID: 38283882 PMCID: PMC10811446 DOI: 10.1123/jmld.2023-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Social media platforms are rich and dynamic spaces where individuals communicate on a person-to-person level and to broader audiences. These platforms provide a wealth of publicly available data that can shed light on the lived experiences of people from numerous clinical populations. Twitter can be used to examine individual expressions and community discussions about specific characteristics (e.g., motor skills, burnout) associated with a diagnostic group. These data are useful for understanding the perspectives of a diverse, international group of self-advocates representing a wide range of clinical populations. Here, we provide a framework for how to harvest data from Twitter through their free, academic researcher application programming interface access using Python, a free, open-source programming language. We also provide a sample data set harvested using this framework and a set of analyses on these data specifically related to motor differences in neurodevelopmental conditions. This framework offers a cost-effective and flexible means of harvesting and analyzing Twitter data. Researchers should utilize these resources to advance our understanding of the lived experiences of clinical populations through social media platforms and to determine the critical questions that are of most importance to improving quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E Fears
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Riya Chatterjee
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Priscila M Tamplain
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Haylie L Miller
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Chatterjee R, Fears NE, Lichtenberg G, Tamplain PM, Miller HL. Identity and Discourse Among #ActuallyAutistic Twitter Users With Motor Differences. JOURNAL OF MOTOR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT 2023; 11:525-540. [PMID: 38274158 PMCID: PMC10810310 DOI: 10.1123/jmld.2023-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Despite a growing awareness of the prevalence of motor differences in the autistic community, their functional impact is poorly understood. Social media offers the ideal setting to observe this discourse in a less-contrived setting than lab-based structured interviews. The aims of the present study were (a) to determine the proportion of Twitter users who self-identify as autistic and dyspraxic/having developmental coordination disorder, relative to autistic alone, and (b) to identify common themes emerging from two moderated chat threads with motor-related prompts. Using the Twitter research application programming interface, we harvested data from users' public profiles and tweets containing terms related to autism and developmental coordination disorder within a 1-month time period. We also harvested data from two #AutChat threads related to motor skills, which included 151 tweets from 31 unique autistic users (two with co-occurring developmental coordination disorder). Of these tweets, 44 were explicitly about motor differences, while the remainder consisted of discussion topics more loosely associated with motor skills. The following common themes were quantified: manual dexterity, lower extremity, oral motor, gross motor, posture, balance, stimming, movement pain, and coordination. Together, these findings indicate that motor differences are highly recognized and discussed among autistic individuals but are not overtly integrated into their identities at the same rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riya Chatterjee
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nicholas E Fears
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | - Priscila M Tamplain
- Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Haylie L Miller
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Estrugo Y, Bar Yehuda S, Bauminger-Zviely N. Pathways to peer interaction in ASD and TD through individual and dyadic joint-action motor abilities. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1234376. [PMID: 37790236 PMCID: PMC10543120 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1234376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Any social engagement, especially with peers, requires children's effective activation of social and motor mechanisms. Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often display dysfunctions both in individual motor functioning (e.g., fine/gross) and in dyadic joint action (JA), where two partners coordinate movement toward a shared goal. Yet, these mechanisms' contribution to peer interaction has been underexplored. Method This study examined the contribution of individual motor functioning and JA performance to peer interaction (cooperation, attentiveness, social engagement, and dyadic quality), while comparing children and adolescents' (youngsters) with ASD versus those with typical development (TD). Results Results indicated more competent peer interaction in TD than in ASD. Interestingly, only the ASD group showed significant maturation with age for social engagement and dyadic interaction quality, calls for further examination of developmental trajectories. However, even the oldest participants with ASD continued to lag behind the youngest TD group. Also, findings indicated that better individual motor functioning and JA performance explained better peer interactive competence; yet, the contribution of individual motor functioning to social cooperation and dyadic quality was moderated by JA performance. Thus, youngsters' individual motor system was found to be an important contributor to peer interaction in those with low to moderate JA coordination capabilities, but not for those with high JA. Conclusion Results emphasize possible distinct contributions of each motor mechanism and their interaction for facilitating social interaction, hence, encouraging incorporation of individual and dyadic motor skills explicitly into social interaction interventions for youngsters ASD.
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Fears NE, Sherrod GM, Templin TN, Bugnariu NL, Patterson RM, Miller HL. Community-based postural control assessment in autistic individuals indicates a similar but delayed trajectory compared to neurotypical individuals. Autism Res 2023; 16:543-557. [PMID: 36627838 PMCID: PMC10023334 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Autistic individuals exhibit significant sensorimotor differences. Postural stability and control are foundational motor skills for successfully performing many activities of daily living. In neurotypical development, postural stability and control develop throughout childhood and adolescence. In autistic development, previous studies have focused primarily on individual age groups (e.g., childhood, adolescence, adulthood) or only controlled for age using age-matching. Here, we examined the age trajectories of postural stability and control in autism from childhood through adolescents using standardized clinical assessments. In study 1, we tested the postural stability of autistic (n = 27) and neurotypical (n = 41) children, adolescents, and young adults aged 7-20 years during quiet standing on a force plate in three visual conditions: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), and eyes open with the head in a translucent dome (Dome). Postural sway variability decreased as age increased for both groups, but autistic participants showed greater variability than neurotypical participants across age. In study 2, we tested autistic (n = 21) and neurotypical (n = 32) children and adolescents aged 7-16 years during a dynamic postural control task with nine targets. Postural control efficiency increased as age increased for both groups, but autistic participants were less efficient compared to neurotypical participants across age. Together, these results indicate that autistic individuals have a similar age trajectory for postural stability and control compared to neurotypical individuals, but have lower postural stability and control overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E. Fears
- University of Michigan, 830 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48170, USA
- University of North Texas Health Science Center, School of Health Professions, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
- Louisiana State University, 50 Fieldhouse Dr. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70802, USA
| | - Gabriela M. Sherrod
- University of North Texas Health Science Center, School of Health Professions, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Tylan N. Templin
- University of North Texas Health Science Center, School of Health Professions, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
- Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Rd., San Antonio, TX, 78238, USA
| | - Nicoleta L. Bugnariu
- University of North Texas Health Science Center, School of Health Professions, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
- University of the Pacific, School of Health Sciences, 155 Fifth St., San Francisco, CA, 94103, USA
| | - Rita M. Patterson
- University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
| | - Haylie L. Miller
- University of Michigan, 830 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48170, USA
- University of North Texas Health Science Center, School of Health Professions, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
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11
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Bhat A. Multidimensional motor performance in children with autism mostly remains stable with age and predicts social communication delay, language delay, functional delay, and repetitive behavior severity after accounting for intellectual disability or cognitive delay: A SPARK dataset analysis. Autism Res 2023; 16:208-229. [PMID: 36533674 PMCID: PMC9939031 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
When motor difficulties continue into adolescence/adulthood, they could negatively impact an individual with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)'s daily living skills, physical fitness, as well as physical and mental health/well-being. Few studies have examined motor difficulties in children with ASD as a function of sex or age; however, greater cognitive challenges are associated with worse general motor performance. Based on the Developmental Coordination Disorder-Questionnaire (DCD-Q) data from the SPARK study sample, 87%-88% children with ASD were at-risk for a general motor impairment that persisted until 15 years and was related to their core and co-occurring difficulties. Bhat et al. confirmed motor difficulties in children with ASD on multiple motor dimensions that predicted core and co-occurring conditions after accounting for age and sex. However, presence of intellectual disability (ID) or cognitive delay was not controlled in the previous analysis. Additionally, the effects of age, sex, and cognitive ability on multidimensional motor difficulties of the SPARK sample have not been discussed before. Therefore, this analysis examines the effects of age, sex, and cognitive ability (presence of ID or level of cognitive delay) on the motor performance of children from the SPARK sample using the DCD-Q. Except fine motor skills, multiple motor domains did not change with age in children with ASD. Females without ID improved their fine motor scores with age, and performed better compared to males without ID. Children with ASD and ID had greater motor difficulties across multiple motor domains than those without ID. Even after controlling for age, sex, and presence of ID/cognitive delay; motor performance was predictive of social communication skills, repetitive behavior severity, as well as language and functional delays. Gross motor skills contributed more than fine motor and general motor competence skills in predicting social communication delay. However, fine motor and general motor competence skills contributed more than gross motor skills in predicting repetitive behavior severity and language delay. Both, fine and gross motor skills predicted functional delay. In light of consistent findings on motor difficulties in children with ASD, adding motor issues as a specifier within the ASD definition could provide a clear clinical route for movement clinicians to address motor difficulties of individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjana Bhat
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA,Biomechanics & Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA,Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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12
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Fears NE, Templin TN, Sherrod GM, Bugnariu NL, Patterson RM, Miller HL. Autistic Children Use Less Efficient Goal-Directed Whole Body Movements Compared to Neurotypical Development. J Autism Dev Disord 2022:10.1007/s10803-022-05523-0. [PMID: 35441912 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05523-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Autistic children have differences in their movements which impact their functional performance. Virtual-reality enables researchers to study movement in safe, engaging environments. We used motion-capture to measure how 7-13-year-old autistic and neurotypical children make whole-body movements in a virtual-reality task. Although children in both groups were successful, we observed differences in their movements. Autistic children were less efficient moving to the target. Autistic children did not appear to use a movement strategy. While neurotypical children were more likely to overshoot near targets and undershoot far targets, autistic children did not modulate their strategy. Using kinematic data from tasks in virtual-reality, we can begin to understand the pattern of movement challenges experienced by autistic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E Fears
- School of Health Professions, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, 830 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI, 48170, USA
| | - Tylan N Templin
- School of Health Professions, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
- Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Rd., San Antonio, TX, 78238, USA
| | - Gabriela M Sherrod
- School of Health Professions, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Nicoleta L Bugnariu
- School of Health Professions, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
- School of Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, 155 Fifth St., San Francisco, CA, 94103, USA
| | - Rita M Patterson
- University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
| | - Haylie L Miller
- School of Health Professions, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA.
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, 830 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI, 48170, USA.
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