Motor skills predict adaptive behavior in autistic children and adolescents

Nicholas E. Fears; Stephanie A. Palmer; Haylie L. Miller

doi:10.1002/aur.2708

journal article Open Access Mar 23, 2022

Motor skills predict adaptive behavior in autistic children and adolescents

Nicholas E. Fears

Stephanie A. Palmer Haylie L. Miller

Autism Research Vol. 15 No. 6 pp. 1083-1089 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/aur.2708

Abstract

AbstractIt is well‐documented that intelligence quotient (IQ) is a poor predictor of adaptive behavior scores in autism, with autistic children having lower adaptive behavior scores than would be predicted based on their IQ scores. Differences in motor skills may explain the variability in their adaptive behavior scores. The current study examined how motor skills might explain autistic individuals' low adaptive behavior scores and which individual components of IQ (i.e., verbal comprehension and perceptual reasoning) and motor skills (i.e., manual dexterity, aiming and catching, and balance) may drive this effect. We examined the associations between IQ, motor skills, calibrated severity, and adaptive behavior scores in 45 autistic children and adolescents. Using a t‐test, we found a significant difference (p <0.001) between full‐scale IQ and adaptive behavior scores, indicating that our participants' adaptive behavior scores were lower than would be expected given their full‐scale IQ. Using a linear regression, we investigated whether motor skills predicted adaptive behavior in autistic children and adolescents and found that motor skills scores were associated with adaptive behavior scores (p = 0.022). To further investigate these associations, we used another linear regression to examine how individual components of IQ and motor skills predicted adaptive behavior scores in autistic children and adolescents. Our results indicated that manual dexterity scores were associated with adaptive behavior scores (p = 0.036). These findings clearly illustrate the need for further understanding of autistic individuals' difficulties with adaptive behavior and the potential role of motor skill difficulties that may underlie these difficulties.Lay SummaryAutistic children have lower adaptive behavior scores (e.g., daily living skills, social skills, communication) than intelligence scores (e.g., verbal and perceptual skills) along with difficulties with motor skills. Motor skills may explain the gap between adaptive behavior and intelligence. We found motor skills were associated with adaptive behavior in autistic children and adolescents. In particular, hand coordination was associated with adaptive behavior. We need to better understand how autistic individuals' motor skills impact their adaptive behavior to provide effective supports.

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References

Details

Published: Mar 23, 2022
Vol/Issue: 15(6)
Pages: 1083-1089
License: View

Authors

N

Nicholas E. Fears

Department of Physical Therapy University of North Texas Health Science Center Fort Worth Texas USA; School of Kinesiology University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA

S

Stephanie A. Palmer

School of Kinesiology University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA

H

Haylie L. Miller

Department of Physical Therapy University of North Texas Health Science Center Fort Worth Texas USA; School of Kinesiology University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA

Funding

National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Mental Health Award: K01‐MH107774

Cite This Article

Nicholas E. Fears, Stephanie A. Palmer, Haylie L. Miller (2022). Motor skills predict adaptive behavior in autistic children and adolescents. Autism Research, 15(6), 1083-1089. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2708

Motor skills predict adaptive behavior in autistic children and adolescents

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