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. 2012 Dec;35(4):838-46.
doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2012.07.019. Epub 2012 Sep 13.

Relation between early motor delay and later communication delay in infants at risk for autism

A N Bhat  1 , J C Galloway, R J Landa
Affiliations

Relation between early motor delay and later communication delay in infants at risk for autism

A N Bhat et al. Infant Behav Dev. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Motor delays have been reported in retrospective studies of young infants who later develop Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).

Objective: In this study, we prospectively compared the gross motor development of a cohort at risk for ASDs; infant siblings of children with ASDs (AU sibs) to low risk typically developing (LR) infants.

Methods: 24 AU sibs and 24 LR infants were observed at 3 and 6 months using a standardized motor measure, the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS). In addition, as part of a larger study, the AU sibs also received a follow-up assessment to determine motor and communication performance at 18 months using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning.

Results: Significantly more AU sibs showed motor delays at 3 and 6 months than LR infants. The majority of the AU sibs showed both early motor delays and later communication delays.

Limitations: Small sample size and limited follow-up.

Conclusions: Early motor delays are more common in AU sibs than LR infants. Communication delays later emerged in 67-73% of the AU sibs who had presented with early motor delays. Overall, early motor delays may be predictive of future communication delays in children at risk for autism.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Categories of Motor Performance in AU sibs and LR infants at 3 and 6 months
Proportion of low and within normal limit (WNL) performers among the infant siblings of children with ASDs (AU sibs) and low risk (LR) infants at 3 and 6 months. Note: AIMS percentile rank ≤ 25th percentile was defined as low motor performance.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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