Alexis Ombati
Research Mentor: Haylie Miller
Mentor Department: University of Michigan, Kinesiology
Author(s): Alexis Ombati, Camilla Angeles, Haylie Miller
Session: Session 3 (11:00 AM – 11:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 84
Abstract
There are known differences between the eye and body movements of neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals. Our understanding of how motor and visual development in neurodivergence differs from typical development is limited, necessitating further investigation of body movement and coordination discrepancies. This study specifically assesses the difficulty neurodivergent people experience when using vision to guide their movement, also known as visuomotor integration. We analyzed a select group, ranging from the ages of 12 to 25 and who are either diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, both conditions (AuDHD), or are neurotypical, using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-3). Our findings indicate that individuals diagnosed with ASD show greater variability in their MABC-3 scores, showing the most difficulty with balance and locomotion tasks. Comorbid individuals also exhibited scores across all zones, with many showing considerable difficulty with tasks. However, participants with ADHD alone demonstrated similar results to neurotypical participants, with limited variability in scores and the majority showing little difficulty across all sections. Given that the study is still underway, definitive conclusions cannot yet be determined. However, preliminary findings suggest significant motor differences between autistic and neurotypical individuals. Further longitudinal data collection of new and current participants is required to advance the understanding of visuomotor integration difficulties within neurodivergence. Determining these discrepancies will help narrow down which motor skills require additional support to inform the development of targeted interventions for these populations.
