Motor functioning in developmental psychopathology: A review of autism as an example context.
Stop treating motor delays as side notes—track them with parent forms and motion tools to see if they drive later autism traits.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Hudry et al. (2020) wrote a narrative review. They looked at every paper that linked motor skills and autism.
They asked one big question: do poor motor skills cause later autism traits, or are they just side notes?
The team said we must stop using yes-or-no checklists. We need rulers that show small daily changes and we need long studies that follow the same kids for years.
What they found
The review found a hole. Almost no one uses motion sensors, phone apps, or video AI to track movement.
Most studies are short and small. Because of that, we still do not know if fixing motor delays early would soften social or sensory problems later.
How this fits with other research
Glass et al. (2023) did the exact work Kristelle wanted. They pooled every social-motor synchrony paper and showed autistic partners move less in step with others. This proves fine-grade motion coding can spotlight group differences.
Block et al. (2026) went further. They tracked the same kids for eight years and found strength gaps widen while overall motor scores stay flat. That long view is the kind Kristelle said was missing.
Zhou et al. (2018) looked bleak: only one true motor RCT in thirty years. Kristelle’s call for random trials echoes that same worry.
Bhat (2024) answered another plea. In a huge data set, two parent forms agreed 81 % of the time, giving us the cheap, tech-ready ruler Kristelle asked for.
Why it matters
You can act today. Add a quick parent form like the DCD-Q to your intake. Chart the score each quarter. If the numbers slip, add short strength or balance games before social drills. You will gather the very data Kristelle says we need and you may stop bigger problems before they start.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Motor development research has seen substantial recent growth. However, much remains to be understood about the nature and extent of motor impairments in neurodevelopmental disorders, including their potential as early markers and/or causal determinants of downstream functioning in other domains. AIMS AND METHODS: In this narrative review, drawing primarily on the autism literature by way of example, we review current accounts of the nature and consequences of motor functioning. We consider conventional approaches to measurement and study design, and current limited approaches to tackling heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: We argue that ongoing adherence to traditional diagnostic outcome classification stands in the face of mounting evidence that characteristics of neurodevelopmental disorders lie on a continuum with variability in the general population, and that three broad research avenues stand to offer a better understanding of motor functioning: The use of technology and advanced statistical methods for a more nuanced understanding of motor abilities; exploiting the prospective longitudinal tracking of at-risk infants to understand developmental consequences of early motor difference; and employing randomized controlled trials to test the utility of motor therapies whilst also testing causal hypotheses about the role of motor functioning.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2020 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103739