Impact of a 12-week Motor Skill Intervention on Gross Motor Skill Proficiency and Adaptive Behaviour in Children Aged 3-5 years with ASD

Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that commonly results in atypical motor development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a 12-week motor skill intervention on gross motor skill proficiency and adaptive behaviour in children aged 3-5 years old with ASD. Methodology All participants (n=24) had ASD (mean age=3.79±0.70 years) and completed a 12-week motor skill intervention focused on fundamental movement skills for two hours each week. Developmental assessments were conducted at baseline and after the intervention. Gross motor skills were evaluated using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 and adaptive behaviour was evaluated using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales-2. Gross motor quotient (GMQ) and adaptive behaviour composite (ABC) were used to evaluate gross motor skills and adaptive behaviour respectively. Results Baseline and post-test GMQ (mean baseline= 81.13±14.25; mean post-test= 94.13±15.69) and ABC (mean baseline= 76.46±9.27 mean post-test= 82.04±11.39) scores were determined. GMQ and ABC were evaluated using a paired sample t-test separately. Significant increases were found between baseline and post-test scores in both GMQ, t (23) = -6.35, p<0.001, and ABC, t (23) =-3.71 p=0.001. Conclusions These preliminary results indicate that a 12-week fundamental movement skill intervention can improve gross motor skills and adaptive behaviour in 3–5-year-olds with ASD. These results also indicate fundamental movement skill interventions benefit multiple areas of development and could have positive impacts on developmental trajectories. References Berkeley, S. L., Zittel, L. L., Pitney, L. V., & Nichols, S. E. (2001). Locomotor and object control skills of children diagnosed with autism. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 18(4), 405–416. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.18.4.40