According to DisabilityScoop, researchers believe a child’s motor skills may be a predictor of autism severity. According to the website, a study reviewing 35 children ages 6 to 15 with high-functioning autism found that “kids who had greater difficulty with so-called object-control motor skills — activities like throwing a ball — also displayed more trouble with social and communication skills.”
“So much of the focus on autism has been on developing social skills, and that is very crucial,” Megan MacDonald of Oregon State University told DisabilityScoop. “Yet we also know there is a link between motor skills and autism, and how deficits in these physical skills play into this larger picture is not clearly understood.”
MacDonald’s study has been published in the July edition of Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. Researchers with Oregon State said that their findings raise questions about whether children hold back on activities because of social skill deficits or physical problems. “We have programs and interventions that we know work, and have measurable impact on motor skill development,” MacDonald told DisabilityScoop. “We need to make sure we identify the issue and get a child help as early as possible.”
Many people with autism are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, depending on the severity of their condition. If you or a loved one suffer from autism and you have questions about applying for disability benefits or are unsure if you qualify, contact a Tulsa Social Security disability attorney. We offer free evaluations of your case, and you may reach us by phone at (918) 265-1404. Contact us today to learn more about your rights.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security disability attorneys