Supporting the need for the motor domain to be included in the definition of autism spectrum disorder: A response to Bishop et al.'s critique of Bhat (2021)

Ketcheson, Leah R.; Pitchford, E. Andrew; Staples, Kerri L.; MacDonald, Megan; Ulrich, Dale A.

doi:10.1002/aur.2811

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…We feel that the present results could provide valuable contributions to the ongoing debate about the possibility of including motor characteristics to the autism definition (Belmonte, 2022; Bhat, 2022; Bishop et al, 2022; Crippa, 2022; Ketcheson et al, 2022; Licari et al, 2022). First, we offered new empirical evidence that specific motor profiles in autism can be isolated through a multimodal investigation of motor skills.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…With this respect, two recent reviews (Lidstone & Mostofsky, 2021; Wang et al, 2022) proposed that visual‐motor integration and, more in general, perception‐action coupling represent particularly critical mechanisms for autistic individuals, which may specifically contribute to social‐skill development. These observations, combined with the high prevalence of motor atypicality reported in the condition (up to 86.9% of autistic children/adolescents for Bhat, 2020), have recently prompted an ongoing debate about the potential of adding a motor specifier to the autism definition in future revisions of diagnostic manuals (Belmonte, 2022; Bhat, 2022; Bishop et al, 2022; Crippa, 2022; Ketcheson et al, 2022; Licari et al, 2022). Whether and to what extent the motor difficulties are specific to autism remains a matter of contention in this discussion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A multimodal approach can identify specific motor profiles in autism and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder

De Francesco,

Morello,

Fioravanti

et al. 2023

Autism Research

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It is still unclear whether and to what extent the motor difficulties are specific to autism. This study aimed to determine whether a multimodal assessment of motor skills could accurately discriminate autistic children from attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and typically developing (TD) peers. Seventy‐five children, aged 7–13, equally divided into three groups, were assessed with the developmental coordination disorder questionnaire (DCDQ), the movement assessment battery for children 2 (MABC2), the sensorimotor subtests of NEPSY‐II, and the kinematic analysis of a reach‐to‐drop task. Principal component analysis (PCA) on DCDQ subscales revealed one factor—Caregiver Report—, whereas MABC2/NEPSY‐II scores identified three factors—namely, Object Interception and Balance, Motor Imitation, and Fine‐Motor Skills—. Lastly, PCA on kinematic variables identified four factors: PC1, loaded by the parameters of velocity and acceleration throughout the task, PC2 and PC3 involved the temporal parameters of the two submovements, and PC4 accounted for the wrist inclination at ball drop. When comparing autistic and TD children, Caregiver Report and Motor Imitation factors predicted membership with 87.2% of accuracy. In the model comparing ADHD and TD groups, Caregiver Report and Fine‐Motor Skills predicted membership with an accuracy of 73.5%. In the last model, the Object Interception and Balance factor differentiated autistic children from ADHD with an accuracy of 73.5%. In line with our previous findings, kinematics did not differentiate school‐aged autistic children from ADHD and TD peers. The present findings show that specific motor profiles in autism and ADHD can be isolated with a multimodal investigation of motor skills.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multimodal approach can identify specific motor profiles in autism and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder

De Francesco,

Morello,

Fioravanti

et al. 2023

Autism Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…More community‐based research is needed to assess the impact of continued physical activity and social participation throughout life for individuals with ASD to promote independent and meaningful living as well as their physical/mental well‐being. There is a growing debate on whether motor problems should be included within the definition of ASD (Bishop et al, 2022; Bhat et al, 2022; Belmonte, 2022; Ketcheson et al, 2022; Crippa, 2022; Licari et al, 2022). Our replicable findings across Bhat et al (2022) and the current paper lend support for the pervasive, unique, and invariant nature of motor difficulties in ASD enough to be recognized within the ASD definition; at least as a domain‐specific specifier.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross‐replicating findings on unique motor impairments of children with ASD using confirmatory factor analysis and a novel SPARK study sample

2023

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A series of recent reports have shed light on the pervasive nature of motor impairments in children with ASD (Bhat, 2020, 2021, Bhat et al., 2022), underscoring the importance of providing ASD clinicians efficient and accurate tools for motor screening. The Developmental Coordination Disorder‐Questionnaire (DCD‐Q) is a widely used motor screening tool, yet scant evidence exists regarding its psychometric properties in children with ASD. In a recent Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) of the 15‐item DCD‐Q in a large sample of children with ASD (SPARK study), we found a 5‐factor latent structure that identified unique motor impairments in a large sample of children with ASD (Bhat et al., 2022). In the current study, we extend this work by cross‐replicating the EFA findings of unique ASD‐related motor issues using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in a new, more recent wave of children with ASD from the SPARK study (N = 9721). The fits and interpretability of 11 hypothesis‐driven CFA models, including 8 correlated‐factors, 1 second‐order, and 2 bifactor models were compared. Our findings supported the previous 5‐factor model with 2 gross motor subdomains, 1 fine motor domain (similar to the original DCD‐Q) and 2 general coordination subdomains. This model demonstrated acceptable fit in the new sample as well as superior fit compared to several other parsimonious correlated‐factors models. However, the second‐order and bifactor models fit slightly better and supported the presence of a general motor skills factor, although 38% of the common variance in the DCD‐Q items remained attributable to the 5 subdomains. Using one of the bifactor models, measurement invariance was also supported for DCD‐Q across sex, race, and co‐occurring conditions of language disorder and intellectual disability. Only partial invariance was supported when testing DCD‐Q scores across different age groups. These findings reveal a more complex dimensional picture of the DCD‐Q in children with ASD. Results suggest that the DCD‐Q can be used in two ways, total scores adequately assess general motor skills for brief screening and subdomain scores offer unique information on the multidimensional motor problems of children with ASD. If subdomain data are of interest, our findings call into question the practice of relying on 3 original subscales of the DCD‐Q when screening for ASD‐related motor difficulties, whereas 4 out of 5 subscale scores may better highlight domain‐specific motor problems. Future studies should continue to further validate DCD‐Q's ability to screen for multidimensional motor problems.

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Supporting the need for the motor domain to be included in the definition of autism spectrum disorder: A response to Bishop et al.'s critique of Bhat (2021)

Cited by 2 publications

References 29 publications

A multimodal approach can identify specific motor profiles in autism and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder

A multimodal approach can identify specific motor profiles in autism and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Cross‐replicating findings on unique motor impairments of children with ASD using confirmatory factor analysis and a novel SPARK study sample

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