Impact of Autism Spectrum Disorder on Motor Development of Brazilian Preschool and School-Age Children.
Motor gaps in autism widen from preschool to school age—screen early and re-check often.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Rosa and colleagues tested motor skills in Brazilian autistic and neurotypical children. They used the MDS III tool on kids in preschool and early elementary years.
The team compared scores across every motor domain to see where autistic children lagged behind.
What they found
Autistic children scored lower than peers on every motor skill measured. The gap grew wider once kids entered school.
Delays were not just present—they became more obvious with age.
How this fits with other research
Kambas et al. (2014) built the DEMOST-PRE, another preschool motor screener. Both studies show quick tools can flag delays early.
Sanchez-Joya et al. (2017) found very premature preschoolers also score lower than peers, but on cognitive tests. Rosa’s motor results mirror that pattern, only the risk factor is autism, not prematurity.
Festinger et al. (1996) showed autistic kids lag further behind in daily living skills than in IQ. Rosa adds motor skills to that list of gaps that widen over time.
Why it matters
You now have two solid screeners—MDS III and DEMOST-PRE—to catch motor delays before kindergarten. Add one to your intake packet. If the child is autistic, schedule quarterly re-checks; the gap grows fastest during early elementary years. Early motor goals can piggy-back on social and language targets, saving you therapy hours later.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be identified in early childhood, often manifesting through motor delays, stereotyped behaviors, and atypical developmental profiles, with motor impairments frequently being among the earliest observable indicators. This study aimed to assess the motor development in preschool and school-age children, comparing those with ASD to neurotypical peers. The research focuses on evaluating the overall impact of ASD on motor development and examining specific motor domains. The study included 292 children (73% boys and 27% girls), aged 3 to 10 years. The sample was divided into two groups: the ASD and the neurotypical (NT) groups, with a ratio of 3:1, with three neurotypical children selected for every child with ASD. Motor development was assessed using the Motor Development Scale III (MDS III), which evaluates six specific domains: fine motor skills (FM), gross motor skills (GM), balance (BL), body schema (BS), spatial organization (SO), and temporal organization (TO). Children with ASD, both in the preschool and school-age groups, exhibited a significantly higher incidence of motor impairments across all evaluated motor domains compared to their neurotypical peers. Motor impairments in children with ASD are not only prominent during the preschool years but also tend to intensify as children transition into school age. These findings highlight the need for early identification and targeted interventions to address motor challenges in children with ASD.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2026 · doi:10.1002/aur.70200