Profiles and cognitive predictors of motor functions among early school-age children with mild intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the study was to describe sensorimotor profile in children with mild intellectual disability (ID), and to examine the association between cognitive and motor function.

Methods: A total of 233 children with mild ID aged 7 to 8 years were evaluated with measures of cognitive, motor and sensory integrative functioning.

Results: Children with mild ID performed significantly less well on all test measures. 44.2% of children scored in the impaired range on seven out of 22 sensorimotor measures. They had weaker fine motor skills than gross motor skills. Sensory integrative functions were only mildly impaired. Total IQ substantially predicted overall performance on each motor test. Specifically, verbal comprehension and processing speed indexes were significant predictors of gross and fine motor function.

Conclusions: Sensorimotor dysfunctions were found to be very frequent in children with mild ID. Early identification of sensorimotor impairments is essential to prompt early intervention and facilitate better integration into regular school settings.