Brittany G Travers1, Lucia Lee2, Nicole Klans3, Alexandra Engeldinger4, Desiree Taylor5, Karla Ausderau6, Emily C Skaletski7, Joshua Brown8. 1. Brittany G. Travers, PhD, is Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, and Investigator, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison; btravers@wisc.edu. 2. Lucia Lee, MOT, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, WI. 3. Nicole Klans, MOT, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis. 4. Alexandra Engeldinger, MOT, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Aspire Therapy and Development Services, Madison, WI. 5. Desiree Taylor, MOT, OTR/L, is Doctoral Student, Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Occupational Therapist, Aspire Therapy & Development Services, Madison, WI. 6. Karla Ausderau, PhD, OTR/L, is Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, and Investigator, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 7. Emily C. Skaletski, MOT, OTR/L, is PhD Student, Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, and Member, Motor and Brain Development Lab, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 8. Joshua Brown, OTD, OTR/L, is Clinical Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin- Madison.
Abstract
IMPORTANCE: Motor and sensory challenges are commonly reported among autistic individuals and have been linked to challenges with daily living skills (DLS). To best inform clinical intervention, greater specificity in how sensory and motor challenges relate to DLS is needed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between combined sensory and motor scores and DLS performance among autistic and nonautistic children and to explore associations between motor scores and performance on specific DLS items. DESIGN: Descriptive design. SETTING: University research lab. PARTICIPANTS: Autistic children, nonautistic children with no family history of or diagnosis related to autism, and nonautistic children with a family history of or diagnosis related to autism (ages 6-10 yr; N = 101). All participants communicated verbally. INTERVENTION: None. Outcomes and Measures: Parent-report measures of DLS and sensory features and standardized assessments of motor performance. RESULTS: Findings indicated a strong relationship between motor difficulties and all domains of DLS. At the item level, motor skills were associated with occupations of dressing, bathing, health management, cleaning up and organization, meal preparation and clean-up, education, and safety. Combined sensory and motor measures better predicted DLS than sensory or motor measures alone. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Children with motor and sensory challenges are likely to experience challenges with a diversity of occupations, which is important given the prevalence of motor and sensory challenges among autistic children and among children with other neurodevelopmental conditions. Therapeutic interventions that account for or address these motor challenges and associated sensory features are likely to further enhance DLS. What This Article Adds: A combination of motor challenges and sensory features better predict DLS than either motor or sensory challenges alone. In addition, motor challenges in children are most highly associated with DLS challenges in the domains of dressing, bathing, cleaning, education, safety, health, and meal preparation. Occupational therapists can use this information when considering how the results of sensory and motor assessment may guide clinical intervention in autistic and nonautistic children.
IMPORTANCE: Motor and sensory challenges are commonly reported among autistic individuals and have been linked to challenges with daily living skills (DLS). To best inform clinical intervention, greater specificity in how sensory and motor challenges relate to DLS is needed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between combined sensory and motor scores and DLS performance among autistic and nonautistic children and to explore associations between motor scores and performance on specific DLS items. DESIGN: Descriptive design. SETTING: University research lab. PARTICIPANTS: Autistic children, nonautistic children with no family history of or diagnosis related to autism, and nonautistic children with a family history of or diagnosis related to autism (ages 6-10 yr; N = 101). All participants communicated verbally. INTERVENTION: None. Outcomes and Measures: Parent-report measures of DLS and sensory features and standardized assessments of motor performance. RESULTS: Findings indicated a strong relationship between motor difficulties and all domains of DLS. At the item level, motor skills were associated with occupations of dressing, bathing, health management, cleaning up and organization, meal preparation and clean-up, education, and safety. Combined sensory and motor measures better predicted DLS than sensory or motor measures alone. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Children with motor and sensory challenges are likely to experience challenges with a diversity of occupations, which is important given the prevalence of motor and sensory challenges among autistic children and among children with other neurodevelopmental conditions. Therapeutic interventions that account for or address these motor challenges and associated sensory features are likely to further enhance DLS. What This Article Adds: A combination of motor challenges and sensory features better predict DLS than either motor or sensory challenges alone. In addition, motor challenges in children are most highly associated with DLS challenges in the domains of dressing, bathing, cleaning, education, safety, health, and meal preparation. Occupational therapists can use this information when considering how the results of sensory and motor assessment may guide clinical intervention in autistic and nonautistic children.
Authors: Matthew W Mosconi; Margaret Kay; Anna-Maria D'Cruz; Stephen Guter; Kush Kapur; Carol Macmillan; Lisa D Stanford; John A Sweeney Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2010-08
Authors: Jana M Iverson; Frederick Shic; Carla A Wall; Katarzyna Chawarska; Suzanne Curtin; Annette Estes; Judith M Gardner; Ted Hutman; Rebecca J Landa; April R Levin; Klaus Libertus; Daniel S Messinger; Charles A Nelson; Sally Ozonoff; Lori-Ann R Sacrey; Kelly Sheperd; Wendy L Stone; Helen B Tager-Flusberg; Jason J Wolff; Nurit Yirmiya; Gregory S Young Journal: J Abnorm Psychol Date: 2019-01