The role for context in motor development in autism

摘要

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder with qualitative impairments in reciprocal social interaction and communication as well as a restricted range of interests and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Though specific motor impairments are not part of the diagnostic criteria, the displays of stereotyped motor behaviors are, such as hand or finger flapping and complex whole-body movements. Further, persons with autism show a different pattern of body postures and use of gestures for communication and in social interaction. Motor disturbances among persons with autism are an important clinical feature, though these, in light of the cognitive impairments, seldom are seen as primary. Disorders of coordination are seen in children with autism and Asperger syndrome (AS) as well as in those with pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified, with the children with AS having the least difficulties. Much work on motor impairment in the autism spectrum has focused on the clumsiness seen in persons with Asperger syndrome, in an attempt to differentiate between autism and AS. Persons with autism, however, have also been shown to have neuromotor deficits. It is important to understand motor impairments in autism, though not considered to be among the core deficits, as these are among the early signs in infants later diagnosed with autism. A characteristic motor impairment in autism and AS is the deficient sequencing of movement as the infant rotates from lying on its back to its stomach (Teitelbaum et al, 2004). Normally the infant develops a movement pattern from head to feet, in a corkscrew fashion. In infants later diagnosed with AS, the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex was displayed long past the time when it should have been inhibited. This means that the child rolls, or rather falls over with the whole body, not sequentially.