Handwriting Difficulties in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: a Scoping Review

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 2011 Feb 26

PMID 21350917

Citations 40

Authors

Azadeh Kushki

Tom Chau

Evdokia Anagnostou

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Functional handwriting involves complex interactions among physical, cognitive and sensory systems. Impairments in many aspects of these systems are associated with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), suggesting a heightened risk of handwriting difficulties in children with ASD. This scoping review aimed to: (1) survey the existing evidence about potential contributions to compromised handwriting function in children with ASD, and (2) map out the existing studies documenting handwriting difficulties in children with ASD. The current evidence implicates impairments in fine motor control and visual-motor integration as likely contributors to handwriting difficulties in children with ASD, though the role of the latter is not well-understood. Moreover, diminished overall legibility and compromised letter formation are emerging points of convergence among existing studies of handwriting quality in children with ASD.

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