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Evidence for Specificity of Motor Impairments in Catching and Balance in Children with Autism

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Abstract

To evaluate evidence for motor impairment specificity in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children completed performance-based assessment of motor functioning (Movement Assessment Battery for Children: MABC-2). Logistic regression models were used to predict group membership. In the models comparing typically developing and developmental disability (DD), all three MABC subscale scores were significantly negatively associated with having a DD. In the models comparing ADHD and ASD, catching and static balance items were associated with ASD group membership, with a 1 point decrease in performance increasing odds of ASD by 36 and 39 %, respectively. Impairments in motor skills requiring the coupling of visual and temporal feedback to guide and adjust movement appear specifically deficient in ASD.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Autism Speaks and by NIH: R01NS048527, R01 MH085328, R01 MH078160, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, and NIH/NCRR CTSA Program, UL1-RR025005.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Katarina Ament & Stewart Mostofsky

  2. Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Amanda Mejia & Brian Caffo

  3. Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Rebecca Buhlman

  4. Center for Autism and Related Disorder, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 3901 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21211, USA

    Shannon Erklin, Stewart Mostofsky & Ericka Wodka

  5. Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Stewart Mostofsky

  6. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Stewart Mostofsky & Ericka Wodka

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  1. Katarina Ament
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  2. Amanda Mejia
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  3. Rebecca Buhlman
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  4. Shannon Erklin
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  7. Ericka Wodka
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Correspondence to Ericka Wodka.

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Ament, K., Mejia, A., Buhlman, R. et al. Evidence for Specificity of Motor Impairments in Catching and Balance in Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 742–751 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2229-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2229-0

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