DEVELOPMENTAL PATTERNS OF VISUAL PERCEPTION, MOTOR COORDINATION, AND VISUAL–MOTOR INTEGRATION IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER - A PILOT STUDY

This pilot study examined the developmental trajectories of visual perception, motor coordination, and visual-motor integration (VMI) in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) aged 6-11 years.Objectives included examining age-related changes, assessing gender differences, and investigating correlations among these domains.Using purposive sampling, 50 children diagnosed with ASD were recruited.The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI, Long Form) was administered to evaluate VMI, along with supplementary standardized tests for visual perception and motor coordination.Results indicated significant age-related improvements in motor coordination and VMI, suggesting developmental progression.No significant gender differences were observed.Significant positive correlations were found among all three domains, with the strongest association between motor coordination and VMI.These findings suggest that VMI in children with ASD develops along an age-related trajectory independent of gender.The study highlights the importance of targeting VMI in intervention planning to support motor skill development, providing preliminary insights for designing tailored rehabilitation strategies.