Predictors of optimal outcome in toddlers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.
Strong motor skills at age 2 may mark toddlers with ASD who later move off the spectrum.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team tracked 13 toddlers who got an autism diagnosis before age 2.
They watched who still had the label at age 4 and who did not.
They tested many early skills to see what set the two groups apart.
What they found
Every child who lost the autism label had strong motor skills at age 2.
Kids who kept the label scored lower on early motor tests.
No other early skill split the groups as clearly as motor ability.
How this fits with other research
Messinger et al. (2010) also used toddler scores to forecast later skills.
They showed that 18-month behavior ratings predict 30-month mental and motor scores in very small babies.
YMitchell et al. (2025) used brain scans instead of motor tests, yet both studies aim to spot which babies need help early.
Wilkinson et al. (1998) found that motor clumsiness shows up in all autism subtypes, but Sutera et al. (2007) now show that better motor skills may signal a path off the spectrum.
Why it matters
When you assess a new young learners with ASD, add a quick motor screen. Strong early motor scores could flag kids who may need less intense services later. Track these kids closely and adjust plans as they grow.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is usually taken to be permanent. In this study, 13 two-year-old children with ASD lost the diagnosis by age 4, at which time they scored within the normal range on standardized measures of cognitive and adaptive functioning. No differences were found in symptom severity, socialization, or communication between children who lost the ASD diagnosis and children who did not, but children with PDD-NOS were significantly more likely than those with full autistic disorder to move off the spectrum. The clearest distinguishing factor was motor skills at age 2. Results support the idea that some toddlers with ASD can lose their diagnosis and suggest that this is difficult to predict.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2007 · doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0340-6