title: Effectiveness of a fundamental motor skill intervention for 4-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study.
abstract: A wait-list control experimental design was employed to investigate the effectiveness of a fundamental motor skill intervention at improving the motor skills, adaptive behavior, and social skills of 4-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder (experimental n = 5, control n = 4); the impact of intervention intensity was also explored. The experimental group significantly improved their object manipulation and overall motor scores from pre- to post-intervention. The wait-list control design revealed no group-by-time interactions; however, with the groups combined time was a significant factor for all motor variables. There were no significant changes in adaptive behavior and social skills. These preliminary findings suggest that a fundamental motor skill intervention may benefit young children with autism spectrum disorder. Future research with larger samples is warranted.
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, Canada University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada bremeree@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.affiliation: University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balogh
authors.affiliation: University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada.
authors.forename: Meghann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lloyd
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010865:Pilot Projects; D066107:Social Skills; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: autism spectrum disorder; behavior; fundamental motor skills; intervention; play; preschool