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. 2015 Mar;45(3):742-51.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-014-2229-0.

Evidence for specificity of motor impairments in catching and balance in children with autism

Katarina Ament  1 , Amanda Mejia, Rebecca Buhlman, Shannon Erklin, Brian Caffo, Stewart Mostofsky, Ericka Wodka
Affiliations

Evidence for specificity of motor impairments in catching and balance in children with autism

Katarina Ament et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Mar.

Abstract

To evaluate evidence for motor impairment specificity in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children completed performance-based assessment of motor functioning (Movement Assessment Battery for Children: MABC-2). Logistic regression models were used to predict group membership. In the models comparing typically developing and developmental disability (DD), all three MABC subscale scores were significantly negatively associated with having a DD. In the models comparing ADHD and ASD, catching and static balance items were associated with ASD group membership, with a 1 point decrease in performance increasing odds of ASD by 36 and 39 %, respectively. Impairments in motor skills requiring the coupling of visual and temporal feedback to guide and adjust movement appear specifically deficient in ASD.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sample breakdown for group comparisons
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a (Model 1) Coefficients and 95 % confidence intervals for models comparing TD children and children with DD. Coefficients and confidence intervals are given as odds ratios, where the outcome of interest is DD. The coefficients reflect the association between a 1-point decrease in mABC score and the odds of DD. The solid gray line corresponds to an odds ratio equal to 1, indicating no relationship between mABC score and the odds of DD. Significant relationships (before correcting for multiple comparisons) are shown in solid black, while non-significant relationships are shown in dashed black. b (Model 2) Coefficients and 95 % confidence intervals for models comparing children with ASD and children with ADHD. Coefficients and confidence intervals are given as odds ratios, where the outcome of interest is ASD. The coefficients reflect the association between a 1-point decrease in mABC score and the odds of ASD. The solid gray line corresponds to an odds ratio equal to 1, indicating no relationship between mABC score and the odds of ASD. Significant relationships (before correcting for multiple comparisons) are shown in solid black, while non-significant relationships are shown in dashed black. c (Model 3) Coefficients and 95 % confidence intervals for models comparing children with ASD with and without comorbid ADHD. Coefficients and confidence intervals are given as odds ratios, where the outcome of interest is comorbid ADHD. The coefficients reflect the association between a 1-point decrease in mABC score and the odds of comorbid ADHD. The solid gray line corresponds to an odds ratio equal to 1, indicating no relationship between mABC score and the odds of comorbid ADHD. Significant relationships (before correcting for multiple comparisons) are shown in solid black, while non-significant relationships are shown in dashed black
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