title: Hand Strength, Handwriting, and Functional Skills in Children With Autism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish hand strength development trends in children with autism and to investigate correlations between grip and pinch strength, components of handwriting, and functional activities in children with and without autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one children were divided into two groups: typically developing children and children on the autism spectrum. Each child completed testing for pinch and grip strength, handwriting legibility, pencil control, and independence in functional activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The children with autism followed the same strength development trends as the typically developing children. Grip strength correlated with pencil control in both groups and with handwriting legibility in the typically developing children but not in the children with autism. Grip and pinch strength correlated with independence with functional activities in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that grip and pinch strength are important components in developing pencil control, handwriting legibility, and independence with functional fine motor tasks.
authors.affiliation: Michele L. Alaniz, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist and Clinical Supervisor, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA.
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Alaniz
authors.affiliation: Eleanor Galit, is Research Assistant, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galit
authors.affiliation: Corina Isabel Necesito, MS, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA.
authors.forename: Corina Isabel
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Necesito
authors.affiliation: Emily R. Rosario, PhD, is Director of Research Institute, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA; erosario@casacolina.org.
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rosario
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder; D001321:Autistic Disorder; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D052581:Pinch Strength