Relationship between motor skills and receptive language in children with autism spectrum disorder.

This study looked at 21 children with autism aged 3-6 to see if their movement skills connect to their ability to understand language. Researchers found that children with better movement skills (especially large movements like running and jumping) also had better language understanding. The connection was very strong across all types of movement skills tested, suggesting that physical development and language understanding may be linked in children with autism.

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between motor skills and receptive language abilities in 21 children with autism spectrum disorder aged 3-6 years. Using standardized assessments (PDMS-2 for motor skills, BDI for receptive communication), researchers found strong positive correlations between all motor variables and receptive communication (p < 0.001). The strongest association was observed with gross motor skills (r = 0.85). While correlations appeared stronger in females, no statistically significant sex differences were detected.

All motor subtests showed high intercorrelations (r ≥ 0.63), suggesting interconnected motor development. These findings highlight significant associations between motor and communication development in young children with ASD.

Findings suggest motor skill development may be important for communication outcomes in young children with ASD. Early intervention programs might benefit from integrating motor skill training alongside communication therapies. Assessment of motor abilities could inform communication intervention planning and goal-setting.

Small sample size of only 21 children limits generalizability. Cross-sectional design prevents determination of causal relationships. Age range is narrow (3-6 years), restricting applicability to other developmental stages. No comparison with neurotypical controls. Potential confounding variables not addressed.

Motor impairments are increasingly recognized as a core component of the functional profile in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with potential associations for communication development. This study aimed to explore the relationship between gross and fine motor skills and receptive communication in children with ASD. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 21 children aged 3 to 6 years diagnosed with ASD. Motor abilities were assessed using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Second Edition (PDMS-2), and receptive communication was evaluated through the Battelle Developmental Inventory (BDI).

Strong, positive, and statistically significant correlations (p < 0.001) were observed between receptive communication and all motor variables, with the strongest association found with gross motor skills (r = 0.85). Although correlations were generally stronger in females, no statistically significant sex differences were detected. Additionally, intercorrelations among the PDMS-2 subtests were consistently high (r ≥ 0,63). Findings reveal significant associations between motor skills and receptive communication in children with ASD.