Mutual coordination of sensorimotor activity for physical development of children with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

© 2020, Teoriya i praktika fizicheskoy kul'tury i sporta. All rights reserved. Objective of the study was to analyze motor disorders in the children with the autism spectrum disorders affecting both mutual coordination of sensorimotor activity and potential for physical development. Methods and structure of the study. The study involved the 5-6 year-old children with the autism spectrum disorders (n=30), attending rehabilitation centre for physically disabled children and adolescents "Astra" in Elabuga municipal district of the Republic of Tatarstan. For the study purposes, we applied the method "Protocol of Neuropsychological Assessment" by J.M. Glozman, in particular, observation and controlled tests. During observations, attention was paid to the rhythmic incoherence of move-ments, discordant muscle tone in the arms and legs, the nature of spatial orienta-tion, reactions to bodily contacts, and the presence or absence of interest and activity in the game. This method made it possible to identify children with different types of functional sensorimotor asymmetry. The controlled tests method consisted of the tests for praxis of the finger position, oral praxis, dynamic praxis, tests for rhythmic patterns and reciprocal hand coordination. The controlled tests used helped assess the potential of arbitrary regulation in the children, coher-ence/ incoherence of sensorimotor coordination, and the children's ability to make cyclic movements (walking, running). Results and discussion. Based on the data obtained, the children were distributed according to their functional sensorimotor asymmetry type: 40% of left-handers and 60% of right-handers. It was found that the right-handed children demon-strated better results in the rhythmic patterns and reciprocal hand coordination tests, and therefore had a higher potential for developing arbitrary regulation of movements and consistency of rhythmic actions. The left-handed children were more accurate in the tests for praxis of finger position and thus the quickest when performing combined finger movements. Conclusion. The findings will enable associate and rehabilitation specialists to appropriately classify and adjust incoherence in the sensorimotor activities of children with the autism spectrum disorders and to eliminate their social disin-tegration.