Motor Proficiency of Children with Typically Developing Children and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently present difficulties in communication, social interaction, and motor abilities. Physical activity presents several major benefits for children with and can be considered a non-pharmacological therapy to improve both motor and social skills. This chapter aims to compare motor proficiency of children with ASD and neurotypical children. Twenty Portuguese children participated in this study, half diagnosed with ASD (6.9 ± 1.97 years) and half typically developed (7 ± 1.83 years). Children’s age ranged from 4 to 10 years (6.95 ± 1.85 years), with a prevalence of males (60%). Motor proficiency was evaluated using the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency (BOT-2). Children with ASD scored significantly lower on different items of motor proficiency (fine manual precision, manual dexterity, coordination of the upper limbs, balance, and motor proficiency profile). We conclude that, due to the deficits found, supervised physical exercise preferentially in small groups combining children with and without ASD is highly recommended.