From the Guidelines
The standard assessment form for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) in a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) should include a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation, incorporating medical, psychological, communication, occupational, and physical therapy assessments [ 1 ].
Key Components of Assessment
- Medical assessment: physical examination, hearing screen, Wood’s lamp examination, and genetic testing, including chromosomal microarray [ 1 ]
- Psychological assessment: measurements of cognitive ability, adaptive skills, and areas of strength and weakness, using instruments valid for nonverbal populations [ 1 ]
- Communication assessment: measurements of receptive and expressive vocabulary, language use, and social or pragmatic skills [ 1 ]
- Occupational and physical therapy evaluations: to assess sensory and/or motor difficulties [ 1 ]
Additional Considerations
- Sleep assessment: as sleep is an important variable to assess in individuals with ASD [ 1 ]
- Genetic consultation and testing: to identify potential organic etiologies, such as chromosomal abnormalities or genetic variations [ 1 ]
- Neuroimaging, EEG, and laboratory tests: when relevant, based on examination or history [ 1 ] A multidisciplinary team approach, including coordination among various professionals, is essential for developing a personalized rehabilitation plan for children with ASD [ 1 ].
From the Research
Standard Assessment Forms for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2) is a standardized motor assessment tool used to examine skill performance in children with ASD 2, 3.
- The Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (MABC-2) is another standardized motor assessment tool used to assess motor skills in children with ASD 2.
- The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, 3rd edition (Vineland-3) is a parent report measure used to capture a comprehensive view of motor performance in children with ASD 2.
- The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 (PDMS-2) is a standardized assessment tool used to evaluate fine and gross motor skills in children with developmental disabilities, including ASD 4.
- The Gross Motor Function Measurement-88 (GMFM-88) is a standardized assessment tool used to evaluate gross motor function in children with developmental disabilities, including ASD 4.
Limitations and Challenges
- There is a lack of valid scales for assessing motor function specifically in children with ASD 5.
- Existing assessment tools may have limitations and challenges when used with children on the autism spectrum 5.
- There is a need for an adapted motor developmental assessment tool that is built and validated specifically for children with ASD 5.
Emerging Assessment Methods
- Virtual reality (VR) game technologies and low-cost motion capture systems may provide personalized approaches to motor intervention in ASD 6.
- The use of VR-based exercise interventions and low-cost motion tracking methods may be feasible and acceptable for estimating motor proficiency in youth with ASD 6.