Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Growth and Development Disorders in Pediatrics

Background: Motor disruption may be impactful for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Studies of neurotypical children found links between motor and communicative development. If these domains are similarly related in Autism Spectrum Disorder,motor disruption could have ripple effects on communication. Aim:The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between language development and gait kinematics in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Subjects: Thirty Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and typically developed ones were included in the study,their age ranged from three to eight years. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out where the selected autism children were assessed for gait kinematics for angles of hip, knee and ankle joints for both lower limbs using kinovea as two dimensions motion analysis system and language abilities using Arabic Preschool Language Scale. Results:It was revealed that there was significance difference in some gait phases and no significant difference in other phases between total language scaled scores and joint angles in both groups.Conclusion:According to the current study results,language development is related to quality of gait to some extent in children with Autism Spectrum disorder

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