The Relationship between Motor Development and Social Development in Autistic Children Aged between 6 and 10 in Mashhad City

Abstract

The term autistic refers to the individuals who have a set of development disorders relevant to the central nervous system. These children are known to have deficiency in social interaction, language and communication. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between motor development and social development of 6-10-year-old autistic children of Mashhad city. The statistical sample involved 41 students with high–functioning autism (31 boys and 10 girls). The researcher calculated the students' social development scores using SCQ questionnaire. Using Lincoln-Oseretsky Motor Development Scale, the level of motor development was determined. In descriptive section, mean and standard deviation were used and in inferential section, Pearson correlation coefficient was applied with 95% confidence level. The results showed a significant relationship between students' motor development and their social development (P0.05). These results of the relationship between motor development and social development showed that motor skills can affect the improvement of autistic students.

Keywords

• autistic child
• motor development
• social development