Cutaneous tactile sensation and standing balance in children with autism: A Preliminary Report

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Abstract
BACKGROUND Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents with a multitude of problems such as physical, social, emotional, psychological, etc. Most common physical problems are impairments in standing balance and posture. It is unknown whether these impairments have any association between tactile sensation or are purely due to deficits in sensory processing and integration. We hypothesized that foot tactile sensation in ASD is positively correlated to performance in standing balance as measured by Pediatric Balance scale. METHODS The data collected at Heartshare Human Services of New York was used for secondary analysis. It consisted of 12 participants and included: 1. Muscle and joint ROM testing to rule out any muscle involvement in balance problems. 2. Tactile sensation testing at four sites on sole of foot bilaterally using Semmes Weinstein monofilament. 3. Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) for balance testing. RESULTS We found significant positive correlation between cutaneous tactile sensation (SWF) and Pediatric Balance scale (PBS) measures in our participants i.e., reduced tactile sensation was moderately associated with impaired balance score. CONCLUSIONS We propose that during conventional clinical assessment for individuals with ASD, foot tactile sensation should not be overlooked, and included as a part of somato-sensory assessment. In addition, enhancing foot tactile sensation could also be used for targeted interventions to improve balance in children with ASD.

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