Title: High prevalence of motor milestone delays in autistic children
Legend: Left – The prevalence of autism with motor milestone delays was 8.59 (95% CI, 8.48-8.70) per 1,000 children aged 8 years, with a ratio of 2.5 autistic children with motor milestone delays for every autistic child without motor milestone delays. There was a high prevalence of autism with motor milestone delays regardless of a co-occurring diagnosis of ID. Right – Children were evaluated for autism 5.1 to 7.8 months earlier if they had motor milestone delays, regardless of ID status. Additionally, in children without a co-occurring diagnosis of ID, those with motor milestone delays were diagnosed with autism about 2 months earlier than children without motor milestone delays.
Citation: Pokoski OM, Furnier SM, Gangnon RE, Howerton EM, Kirby AV, Protho T, Schweizer ML, Travers BG, Durkin MS, Prevalence of motor milestone delays in autistic children: A population-based cross-sectional study (Manuscript in preparation; presented at the International Society for Autism Research annual meeting in Melbourne, Australia, May 2024).
Abstract: Prior literature has explored the prevalence of motor impairments in autistic individuals, but estimates come from clinical samples, convenience samples, or small sample sizes, limiting generalizability. Better understanding of the frequency of motor milestone delays in autistic individuals could lead to improved early identification and subsequently earlier intervention and better developmental outcomes. Using data from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, we aimed to 1) estimate the prevalence of motor milestone delays in 8-year-old autistic children, 2) determine if motor milestone delays predict the age of earliest autism evaluation or diagnosis, and 3) examine if cognitive status confounds the association between motor milestone delays and the age of earliest autism evaluation or diagnosis. Among 32,850 children aged 8 years identified with autism, 71.4% met criteria for motor milestone delays. On average, children with motor milestone delays were evaluated for autism significantly earlier than children without motor milestone delays. Additionally, children without a co-occurring diagnosis of intellectual disability were diagnosed with autism significantly earlier if they had motor milestone delays as well. Early autism identification is a public health priority and examining motor skills may facilitate an earlier autism evaluation, leading to more timely interventions and better developmental outcomes.
Investigator: Maureen Durkin, PhD, DrPH
About the Lab: Durkin’s research interests include the epidemiology, prevention, antecedents and consequences of neurodevelopmental disabilities and childhood injuries, both globally and within the United States. She has collaborated in the development of cross-cultural methods for screening for developmental disabilities and methods for surveillance of childhood injuries, and has directed international studies of the prevalence and causes of neurodevelopmental disabilities in low income countries. Durkin has also directed a cohort study of neuropsychological outcomes of neonatal brain injuries associated with preterm birth and with metabolic disorders detected on newborn screening and is currently a principal investigator on the Wisconsin Surveillance of Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities System and the Study to Explore Early Development.