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Development of the Social Motor Function Classification System for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Psychometric Study

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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To examine reliability and validity of the new Social Motor Function Classification System for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (SMFCS-ASD). The SMFCS-ASD reliability was examined on 25 children (62.4 months SD 7.8) with ASD among six physical therapists. The validity study involved 1001 children (57.0 months, SD 9.9) with ASD using the gross motor scale (GMS) of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-2). The indices of agreement and reliability across six examiners were moderate to substantial (Cohen’s κ ≤ 0.65 and ICC > 0.90, all p < 0.001). The SMFCS-ASD was significantly correlated with the GMS of PDMS-2 (all rho from 0.61 to 0.76, p < 0.001). The SMFCS-ASD was reliable and significantly correlated with the GMS of the PDMS-2.

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Abbreviations

ASD:

Autism spectrum disorders

GMS:

Gross Motor Scale

PDMS-2:

Peabody Motor Developmental Scales second edition

PT:

Physical therapists

SMFCS-ASD:

Social Motor Function Classification System for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Heep Hong Society for her support on this study and all the physical therapists who participated in the reliability study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Tamis W. Pin

  2. Heep Hong Society, Sandy Bay, Hong Kong

    Vincent K. K. So, Cynthia S. H. Siu, Sheila S. N. Yip, Stella See-wing Cheung & Jenny Yim-mui Kan

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  1. Tamis W. Pin
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  2. Vincent K. K. So
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  3. Cynthia S. H. Siu
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  4. Sheila S. N. Yip
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Contributions

TWP participated in conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, writing the original draft, writing—review and editing, supervision. VKKS participated in conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, supervision. CSHS participated in conceptualization, methodology, investigation, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, supervision. SSNY participated in conceptualization, methodology, investigation, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, supervision. SSC participated in conceptualization, methodology, investigation, and supervision. JYK participated in conceptualization, methodology, investigation, and supervision.

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Correspondence to Tamis W. Pin.

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Pin, T.W., So, V.K.K., Siu, C.S.H. et al. Development of the Social Motor Function Classification System for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Psychometric Study. J Autism Dev Disord 51, 1995–2003 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04689-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04689-9

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