Prospective Interrelation Between Sensory Sensitivity and Fine Motor Skills During the First 18 Months Predicts Later Autistic Features

Abstract

Sensory features are included in the diagnostic criteria of autism and atypical sensory responsiveness may produce “cascading effects” on later development. Similarly, autistic individuals often struggle with motor coordination and early delays in the motor domain appear to be linked to later development. However, the longitudinal interrelation between early sensory profiles and motor features on later socio-communicative skills remains to be defined. This study aimed to investigate whether sensory sensitivity impacts fine motor abilities and vice versa from 12 to 18 months of age and to examine how sensory-motor interplay would be associated with later autistic traits at 24–36 months of age. The sample included 118 infant siblings of autistic children recruited at 12 months of age. Sensory sensitivity and eye–hand coordination were assessed at 12 and 18 months of age and autistic traits were evaluated at 24–36 months of age. Cross-lagged panel analysis revealed significant within-domain effects for sensory sensitivity and eye–hand coordination from 12 to 18 months. Furthermore, a significant association between these two domains on later autistic traits was found. In analyzing the longitudinal bidirectional relationship, we found that lower eye–hand coordination skills at 12 months predicted later sensory sensitivity at 18 months, and in turn, social communication skills at 24–36 months. The present study offers new empirical evidence supporting the potential clinical value of including sensory and motor measures besides social communication skills within early autism surveillance programs.