Marker Olive

Marker Olive

Autism And Bilateral Coordination. Why Fine Motor Skills Are Important Too

How is bilateral coordination important in Autism? A major attribute that places us humans apart from many other animals is our ability to use tools - our manual dexterity, our bilateral coordination. Along with primates, we have an opposing thumb and separate digits that allow us a greater range of grasp and manipulation of objects in our environment.

We pay a great deal of attention to our baby's developing gross motor skills e.g. crawling, walking, climbing and running.  They are our way markers, our important milestones.

We pay much less attention to how our babies learn to use and coordinate their hands, their hand-eye co-ordination and the complex development of  fine motor skills.  

Achieving bilateral coordination (the competent use of both hands together) and  fine motor skills is another major milestone in child development, without which we cannot fully master complex physical tasks, including the use of cutlery, dressing, drawing, handwriting and using scissors.  Nor can we experience fully all the sensory information available to us.

Have you noticed how many children on the autistic spectrum perform tasks with only one hand?
Check out the many videos of autistic children on Youtube and those on the Autism Speaks Video Glossary.   Compare the dexterity of the 12 month old neuro-typical child with the  much older 'red flags for ASD' children.  

Why is no one concerned by this glaringly obvious developmental marker?

It is hardly surprising these children show limited interests, and repetitive movements. They do not yet have the physical skills to interact with objects, and explore their environment,  irrespective of their  lack of interaction with people.

Can we say for definite that the typical autism trait of lining up of cars and objects is not imaginative play,  mimicking sitting in traffic on the way to the mall for example?   Do we also know categorically that the child is not testing and honing his hand-eye co-ordination and spatial awareness in this lining up activity … or that he is not developing his geometric and numerical abilities?   Children on this spectrum are known to enjoy intricate patterns!

He knows he is successful in lining up objects, or building towers from large blocks - and toddlers  like to be successful. I would say that most babies are not great risk takers, until they know they have minimised the risk.   Success is usually spurred on by receiving external reward and praise from parents, siblings or carers.   Sadly the baby or toddler with autism cannot  readily access that either.  

Young babies tend to use the hand that is most convenient at the time. If an object is placed near their right hand, they will reach with that one, but if it is nearer their left hand, they are likely to reach with their left. By about 18 months, most babies begin to show a hand preference (about 90% of the time, it is for their right hands) and by their third birthdays, almost all children can be described as either right or left handed.   

Difficulties with gross and fine motor skills, awkward gait, avoidance of  PE and sports are all relevant to autism.  Dyspraxia, or motor planning has been co-morbid with autism as far back as I can remember,  To find out about how and when babies develop bilateral coordination,  and to understand why helping your child to improve coordinated use of both hands will impact significantly on your child's autism visit:Autism Toddler Program.

About the Author

Pauline Oliver worked as a Specialist Teacher for 15 years.  She has now set up an early intervention program especially suited to children under 5 diagnosed with ASD.

To find out more about your baby's developmental milestones towards bilateral coordination during the first 12 months of life visit: Autism-Toddler-Program.com

Pauline Oliver worked as a Specialist Teacher for 15 years.  She has now set up an early intervention program especially suited to children under 5 diagnosed with ASD.

To find out more about your baby's developmental milestones towards bilateral coordination during the first 12 months of life visit: Autism-Toddler-Program.com

Which of these guns for a beginner speedballer?

Hey, i know ive been asking a ton of these questions lately, but starting out speedball should i get an electronic marker : http://www.zephyrpaintball.com/product/PB-KING-50OPUSABLK/Kingman-Spyder-Opus-A-50-Cal-Paintball-Gun---Black.html

or

A semi- auto marker : http://www.zephyrpaintball.com/product/KING-2010-7206/Kingman-Spyder-Sonix-Paintball-Gun---Olive.html

You don't want the Opus, mainly because .50 cal paint is usually very difficult if not impossible to find at most fields/stores; it is not a common caliber at all (.68 is standard) and if you can find it, the quality and selection is poor compared to the choices of .68 cal paintballs. Kingman makes some nice markers, but the Opus is really not a good choice.

The second marker, the Sonix, is a great starter gun, but it isn't electronic. It is easier to maintain and tweak than an electronic gun, which makes it a great choice for a beginner, but if you are comfortable with cleaning and maintaining a paintgun and have a few extra bucks to spend, I'd go the next step up to the Kingman Spyder Pilot. Great electronic starter marker, it is pretty compact and light, has anti-chop eyes to keep from breaking paint, a high rate of fire, and is pretty accurate, easy to maintain, and easily upgradeable.

If you are on a budget- the Sonix is still pretty good, but without the electronics you will have to learn to "walk" your trigger fingers a bit more to get a high rate of fire, but it is still easy to maintain and upgrade, and won't embarrass you like some cheaper markers out there.

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