International Meeting for Autism Research (London, May 15-17, 2008): Comparison of sensory-motor and daily living skills in preschool children with and without autism spectrum disorders

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Champagne Terrace/Bordeaux (Novotel London West)

M. Couture , Faculty of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada

E. Jasmin , Scool of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

E. Gisel , School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

G. Reid , Department of Kinesiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

E. Fombonne , Head of the Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

Background :
While there is controversy in the literature with respect to the nature and extent of sensory-motor difficulties in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), very few studies have compared the performance of sensory-motor skills and their impact on daily living skills in different groups of preschool children.

Objectives:
The proposed research will compare the performance of children with ASD to typically developing children (TD), children with intellectual disability (ID) or with speech-language impairment (SLI) on measures of gross and fine-motor skills, sensory processing and daily living skills.

Methods :
This is a clinical descriptive study of children 3 to 6 years of age. Currently, 60 children with ASD, 17 with TD, and 15 with ID or SLI have been recruited. Recruitment for control groups is still in progress. Children were tested with the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-PDMS-2, Sensory Profile, the Wee-FIM and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-VABS-2.

Results :
Based on preliminary analyses most children with ASD (90%) presented sensory symptoms. Their total motor quotient on the PDMS-2 was 69 (fine motor = 75, gross motor = 69). Mean quotients on daily living skills were 55 on self-care (Wee-FIM), and 75 on the daily living skills of the VABS-2. Data of the control groups are currently being processed. Performance of the children with ASD will be compared to the control groups.

Conclusions:
A high percentage of children with ASD present sensory symptoms and have poor motor skills as well as poor daily living skills, which presents an increased burden of care for the parents. In order to be effective, interventions fostering functional independence will need to address the sensory-motor deficits that children with ASD exhibit.

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