ASD and Exercise: See beyond the spectrum!
What is ASD?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition caused by differences in the brain. These differences affect how a person thinks, feels, interacts with others, and experiences their environment. While autism is considered a lifelong disorder, the degree of impairment in functioning varies between individuals.
Spectrum
As each individual with ASD has different characteristics it is a misconception that the spectrum is linear, rather, people with ASD can present with a wide range of different characteristics. However, they can be categorised into two broad categories: social communication and behaviours.
Social communication includes:
- difficulty sharing interests with others
- aversion to maintaining eye contact
- difficulty appreciating own & others' emotions
- Lacking proficiency in non-verbal gestures
- Interpreting abstract ideas literally
Behaviours include:
- Extreme difficulty coping with change
- Overly focused on niche subjects to the exclusion of others
- Sensory hypersensitivity eg aversion to loud noises or lights
- Stereotypical movements such as hand flapping, rocking, spinning
Diagnosis
Diagnosing ASD can be difficult since there are no medical tests, like a blood test, to diagnose the disorder. Early signs of ASD can be noticed by parent/caregivers or paediatricians before a child reaches one however, symptoms typically become more visible by the time the child is 2-3 years old. As the child grows developmental monitoring and screening is used to help with diagnosis. If a screening tool identifies an area of concern, a formal developmental evaluation is completed by a specialist. While ASD is the term often used, it actually includes diagnosis' of/or autism, Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).
How Exercise Can Assist
There is a large body of evidence supporting the use of exercise to help improve ASD symptoms. Exercise interventions that utilise behavioural philosophy and early intensive behavioural intervention (EIBI) have the most established evidence for improving outcomes for individuals with ASD.
Skills that can be taught include:
- language & communication
- Self-control/behavioural regulation
- Engagement and attending
- Stress management
- Play and leisure skills
- Cognitive development
Further areas of improvement include Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) which are the movement skills considered the building blocks for future complex motor skills ie. sports and habitual physical activity. Early intervention with exercise can help lay these foundations to allow those with ASD to participate in a wide rage of physical activities throughout their life.