Motor difficulties in children with neurodevelopmental conditions: a report from a cross-national study in Belgian and Italian children

Abstract

Motor behavior alterations are common in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the extent of motor impairment remains unclear. In autism and ADHD, motor difficulties may be linked to co-occurring DCD, which often goes unrecognized. We aimed to map the prevalence of DCD in autism and ADHD, and to explore motor skill difficulties using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2), by comparing children with typical motor development (TMD) with those who have NDDs, and by identifying specific profiles among NDDs. A combined sample of participants (n = 215), including autistic children with(out) intellectual disability (ID) and children with ADHD, DCD, and TMD, performed the MABC-2. Depending on co-occurring DCD/ID, subgroups were composed: autism-only (n = 17), autism + ID (n = 17), autism + DCD (n = 40), ADHD-only (n = 14), ADHD + DCD (n = 12), DCD (n = 25), and TMD (n = 59). MABC-2 differences between TMD/NDDs (Mann-Whitney U test) and among NDDs (Kruskal-Wallis test) were assessed. DCD occurred in 70.2% of the autistic children without ID and in 46.2% of those with ADHD. Children with NDDs performed significantly worse than the TMD (p < 0.001). Manual dexterity skills, aiming and catching, and balance were significantly different across the NDD subgroups (p <= 0.001). Particularly children with ( +)DCD and autism + ID performed worse on manual dexterity skills. Children with ( +)DCD were outperformed on aiming and catching. All subgroups, except the ADHD-only group, performed poorly on balance. Conclusion: Distinct motor difficulties were identified across various NDDs. Children with co-occurring ID or DCD exhibit unique challenges, stressing the importance of motor profile subgrouping. What Is Known: center dot Despite the common occurrence of motor behavior in neurodevelopmental disorders, the extent of motor impairment remains unclear. center dot Motor difficulties in autism and ADHD may be linked to co-occurring DCD, which often goes unrecognized. What Is New: center dot DCD occurred in 70% of the autistic children without ID and in 46% of those with ADHD. center dot Children with co-occurring ID or DCD exhibit unique challenges, stressing the importance of motor profile subgrouping.