Motor Skills in Male Children with Intellectual Disability, Down Syndrome, and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comparative Analysis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: Motor skill deficits in children with intellectual disabilities can disrupt sensory information processing and motor experiences, leading to limitations in various functional domains. This study aimed to compare the motor skills of male children with intellectual disability, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder.Methods: This study employed a causal-comparative design and was conducted in 2021 at the Pour-Razaz Exceptional School in Bandar-e Anzali (Iran). The study population consisted of male students with intellectual disability, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder. A convenience sample of 45 participants was divided into three groups: intellectual disability, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder. Participants’ gross and fine motor skills were assessed using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were employed to examine differences between groups, SPSS software version 27 and significance level set at P≤0.05.Results: The intellectual disability group demonstrated significantly better performance than the Down syndrome and autism groups in running speed and agility (P=0.008), balance (P=0.008), bilateral coordination (P=0.01), strength (P=0.008), and upper limb dexterity (P=0.003). Individuals with Down syndrome exhibited significantly higher performance than those with autism in balance (P=0.03), strength (P=0.02), and upper limb dexterity (P=0.005). In the comparison between intellectual disability and autism groups, the intellectual disability group performed significantly better in running speed (P=0.002), balance (P=0.001), bilateral coordination (P=0.002), strength (P=0.001), and upper limb dexterity (P=0.002). The results indicated significant differences in motor skills among male children with intellectual disability, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder.Conclusion: The findings revealed that children with autism exhibited greater motor skill deficits than their peers with intellectual disability and Down syndrome. This pronounced motor impairment might contribute to increased physical inactivity among these children and render them more dependent on others for performing activities of daily living.
Institution: University of Guilan
Language: Persian
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7164404569