Habilidades motoras fundamentais de crianças com transtorno do espectro do autismo: um estudo de caso

Abstract

This study analyzed the effects of a motor activity program using games and play on the development of fundamental motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is characterized as a before-and-after case study. Two children took part: a four-year-old male diagnosed with non-verbal ASD and a six-year-old female diagnosed with verbal ASD. In the intervention, a sequence of activities with the content of games and play was developed over 6 weeks, totaling 10 lessons of 50 minutes each. Motor skills were assessed before and after the intervention, using part of the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2). The results showed that the child classified as verbally autistic improved his performance in the motor domain, while the child classified as non-verbally autistic showed no changes in motor skill performance, but did show improvement in social skills. Despite the limitations, such as the limited analysis of social skills, the study highlights the importance of specific and personalized approaches to promote the development of children with ASD. These findings suggest the need for future research that further explores the impact of interventions with games and play on the ASD population, considering not only the development of motor skills, but also social and emotional aspects.