Which assessment is specifically designated for motor skills assessment in children with autism and is used from age 3?

• A. Bayley Scales
• B. Functional skills
• C. Spatial awareness
• D. Movement assessment battery (from age 3)

Answer: (D)

Focusing on motor coordination from early childhood is crucial because children with autism often show motor planning and execution differences that can affect play and daily activities. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children is designed exactly for this purpose and is appropriate from age 3 onward. It provides a concise profile across key motor domains—manual dexterity, ball skills, and balance—yielding a motor coordination score that helps identify difficulties and guides targeted therapy, such as occupational or physical therapy. Other options are less suitable: Bayley scales do include motor items but are primarily broad developmental assessments for younger children and not specialized for motor coordination in autism; the remaining choices are not standardized motor-coordination tools and don’t offer the validated motor profile that the Movement Assessment Battery provides.