The relationship between the motor skills level and the severity of autism disorder in children with autism

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15561/26649837.2021.0108

Keywords:

Autism, motor skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the level of fine and gross motor skills and motor proficiency with the severity of autism disorder in children with autism. Material and Methods. 68 children with autism, ranged from 3-16 years old, were selected. Motor Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to assess fine and gross motor skills and motor proficiency. Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-2 (GARS-2) test was also used for assessing the severity of autism disorder in the participants. Results. The obtained results from the Pearson correlation test showed that there was a significant and negative relationship between sub-scales of GARS-2 and MABC-2 tests (P<0.05). It means that decreasing the level of motor skills increases the autism severity. The results of the regression test also showed that only the total score of motor proficiency among microscales of the MABC-2 test could predict the stereotypes, social skills, communication skills, and autism severity (P<0.05). Conclusion. The results of the current study indicated the pivotal role of motor skills growth in determining the level of autism disorder. It also emphasized on embedding motor interventions in rehabilitation programs of such people.

Author Biographies

Ali Akbar Barrodi sedehi, Islamic Azad University

Barrodi_akbar@yahoo.com; Ph.D Student; Department of Physical Education, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University; Tehran, Iran.

Abdollah Ghasemi, Islamic Azad University

Assistant Professor; ghasemi_abdolla@yahoo.com; Department of Physical Education, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University; Tehran, Iran.

Ali Kashi, Sport Science Research Institute of Iran (SSRI)

Assistant Professor; ssrc.kashi@gmail.com; Sport Science Research Institute of Iran (SSRI); Tehran, Iran.

Elham Azimzadeh, Shahid Beheshti University

Assistant Professor; e_azimzadeh@sbu.ac.ir; Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University; Tehran, Iran.

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Published

2021-02-25

How to Cite

1.
Barrodi sedehi AA, Ghasemi A, Kashi A, Azimzadeh E. The relationship between the motor skills level and the severity of autism disorder in children with autism. Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports. 2021;25(1):58-65. https://doi.org/10.15561/26649837.2021.0108
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