Adaptd motor activities for hand-eye coordination in a case with level III autism.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the impact of an adapted motor activity program on the development of eye-hand coordination in a 17-year-old adolescent with Level III Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The research was conducted under a positivist paradigm, with a mixed-methods approach and a case study experimental design. The initial assessment was performed using the Updated Pick & Bayer Test and the BOT-2 Test, identifying scores below the expected ranges for his age in eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, and postural control. In the pretest, the participant obtained 12 points in eye-hand coordination, 10 in fine motor skills, 8 in static postural control, and 7 in dynamic postural control.

After the implementation of the adapted motor program, consisting of structured sessions focused on visuomotor precision, manipulation, laterality, and upper limb coordination, a significant improvement was observed in all areas evaluated. In the post-test, scores increased to 18 points in eye-hand coordination (+6), 15 in fine motor skills (+5), 11 in static postural control (+3), and 10 in dynamic postural control (+3). Similarly, in the BOT-2, manual dexterity increased from 14 to 21 points (+7), and eye-hand coordination from 11 to 19 points (+8). In addition to these motor improvements, relevant behavioral enhancements were observed, such as increased social interaction, reduced motor anxiety, and greater autonomy. The results support the alternative hypothesis, concluding that the implemented program produced a real and observable improvement in the participant's motor and socio-emotional performance.