Autism and Motor Planning

by Dora Raymaker · 2009-05-05 15:57:00 UTC
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the surface of a plain white desk, on top is a rectangle about an inch high, a foot wide, and a bit over a foot long. at the top of the rectangle are circular depressions, two of which are filled with metal pegs. the center of the board has lines running down the left and right, and two rows of holes between them. an person's arm and hand is shown as the person fits a peg into one of the holesA study at Kennedy Kreiger, First Neuroimaging Study Examining Motor Execution In Children With Autism Reveals Brain Activation Differences (popular account) examines brain-level differences between autistic and non-autistic children in motor execution--and finds them.

This is of interest to me, as motor planning is something I struggle with myself, and it is also reported by others on the spectrum. Apraxia or dyspraxia co-diagnoses are common enough that both myself and the other speaker on AAC yesterday, Joanne Cafiero, made specific mention of motor planning as relates to difficulties with speech (for the record, I have a speech apraxia Dx).

The study Infant and toddler oral- and manual-motor skills predict later speech fluency in autism (PDF) found a significant correlation between early oral and manual motor skills and later speech fluency. This study also suggests a link between motor skills and autism.

Of course not all people on the spectrum report differences in motor functioning, and not all people on the spectrum have difficulty producing speech. However, a fair amount of us do and I'm pleased to see more research being done in this area. I'm reminded of a quote from Lucy Blackman which I relate to very much (see Lucy's Story), "Being unable to say something, actually is the same as not being able to move in response to an instruction."

Recognition of the role of motor planning in autism could change the way people think about autism and communication--and in turn that could open more opportunities for us to have communication systems that function well for us.

Dora Raymaker
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