Motor impairments in children with autistic disorder

Oromotor, manual and gross motor skills were assessed in an unselected group of 33 children attending a special school for children with autism. Children were assessed by staff with whom they were familiar, in conditions with which they were familiar, and with repeated testing where appropriate, thus maximizing the chances of children demonstrating their skills. Negative ratings were given only for responses or behaviour deemed to be markedly and clinically abnormal. Seventy-nine per cent of the children received negative ratings on over half of the 25 (or in some cases 21) measures, all affected children having oromotor impairments; 55% having additional manual impairments; and 18% having additional gross motor impairments. The findings are discussed in terms of possible causal factors, and in particular the likelihood that oral and manual dyspraxia contribute to impaired speech and signing in many children with autism.