title: Evidence for specificity of motor impairments in catching and balance in children with autism.
abstract: To evaluate evidence for motor impairment specificity in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children completed performance-based assessment of motor functioning (Movement Assessment Battery for Children: MABC-2). Logistic regression models were used to predict group membership. In the models comparing typically developing and developmental disability (DD), all three MABC subscale scores were significantly negatively associated with having a DD. In the models comparing ADHD and ASD, catching and static balance items were associated with ASD group membership, with a 1 point decrease in performance increasing odds of ASD by 36 and 39 %, respectively. Impairments in motor skills requiring the coupling of visual and temporal feedback to guide and adjust movement appear specifically deficient in ASD.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ament
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mejia
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buhlman
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erklin
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caffo
authors.forename: Stewart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mostofsky
authors.forename: Ericka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wodka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D004856:Postural Balance; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*