RESTORATION OF MOTOR AND PSYCHOMOTOR SPHERES IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

Abstract

Aim: To determine the effectiveness of restoration of motor functions and peculiarities of psychomotor development in preschool children with autism spectrum disorders in the conditions of a rehabilitation establishment. Materials and Methods: The interest of specialists in the problem of teaching children with autism is due to a significant increase in the number of this category of children in recent years and insufficiently effective solutions to urgent issues of recovery, rehabilitation, corrective and developmental influence on the motor and psychomotor sphere of autistic children. Children of the middle group aged 5-6 took part in the study. The diagnosis of all children participating in the study is a mild or moderate degree of autism with combined developmental disorders. Rehabilitation classes were held in both groups at physical education classes, but in the main group, they were held at every class. Such classes took place during the walk and were recommended to parents for classes at home. During physical education classes in the control group, the corrective component was partially used. Results: The state of psychomotor skills was determined by four tests assessing sensorimotor coordination, static and dynamic coordination, reciprocity of movements, and spatial orientation. It was noted that 85% of examined children with autism have impaired reciprocal coordination of movements and disorder of spatial organization of actions; 90% of children have impaired sensorimotor coordination of movements. In 100% of children, disorders of static and dynamic coordination of movements were found. Conclusions: This study made it possible to identify a low level of psychomotor development in children with autism, which indicates the need and importance of further development of motor development problems and indicates some approaches to the organization of motor control examination of children with autism.