Why Motor Planning in Autism Often Gets Overlooked
When autism is discussed, the conversation typically centers around speech delays, social differences, or behavioral challenges. But there’s another critical piece of the puzzle that’s often ignored: motor planning difficulties.
If your child with autism struggles to coordinate movements—whether it’s riding a bike, tying shoes, or just walking smoothly—you’re not imagining it. These aren’t minor clumsiness issues. Research now shows that motor impairments in autism may point to a distinct type of neuromotor disability, one that doesn’t always fit into existing categories like fine or gross motor delays.
Let’s explore what this means for your child—and how to support them more effectively.
Not Just DCD or Apraxia: A Unique Motor Profile in Autism
Motor challenges are extremely common in children with autism—affecting up to 80%. But unlike other movement disorders, these issues are neurologically distinct.
Children with autism often struggle with:
- Motor planning (praxis)
- Gesture imitation
- Coordinating sequences of movement
- Timing and execution of actions
Although these difficulties may resemble apraxia or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), they don’t follow the same neurological pathways.
In fact, studies like Kilroy et al. (2022) show that autistic children may share some motor delays with peers diagnosed with DCD, but their challenges with spontaneous movement, initiation, and imitation are more pronounced—highlighting a unique motor signature.
Why Movement Feels So Difficult for Some Kids with Autism
At the heart of these challenges is neuromotor dysfunction—a breakdown in the communication between the brain and body.
Research using brain imaging and motion tracking (Vasa et al., 2016; Emanuele et al., 2021) has found that autistic children often display:
- Unpredictable, inconsistent movements (movement variability)
- Poor coordination between joints and muscles (motor synergies)
- Reduced reliance on visual feedback for movement correction
- Weak sensorimotor integration—the brain’s ability to turn sensation into action
These issues lead to movement that looks awkward or disconnected—not because your child doesn’t know what to do, but because their body can’t execute the command smoothly.
More Than Just Speech or Coordination: The Praxis Problem
Some children with autism are diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) or DCD, but those labels don’t always capture the full range of their motor challenges.
Consider these examples:
- A child can talk, but struggles to copy gestures or brush their hair.
- They may score poorly on balance or coordination tests, but the root issue is difficulty with whole-body planning, not individual skills.
Minissi et al. (2023) found that autistic children engaging in everyday movement—like kicking a ball or blowing bubbles—needed extra time to plan and initiate motion, and their actions often appeared fragmented. These findings point to issues with praxis, the brain’s ability to convert thought into movement.
Are We Mislabeling or Missing the Diagnosis?
So is it apraxia? DCD? Something else entirely?
That’s still unclear. A 2024 review by Kangarani-Farahani and colleagues revealed that only 3 of 27 studies on motor impairment in autism actually diagnosed children with DCD—even though up to 88% showed clear signs of motor dysfunction.
Why the gap?
Because the motor issues in autism don’t neatly match existing diagnostic boxes. They’re broader, more variable, and often reflect neurological processing differences rather than isolated motor skill deficits. As a result, many children are going undiagnosed—and unsupported.
What This Means for You as a Parent
Your child’s motor differences are real—and they matter. But too often, they’re overlooked or oversimplified in therapy and school settings.
Instead of digging into neuromotor function, many professionals stick with surface-level goals like:
- Holding a pencil
- Tying shoelaces
- Standing on one foot
But without addressing how the brain plans and executes movement, these goals may not lead to lasting progress. It is important to have a better understanding of motor planning in autism,
Reframing Autism Through a Neuromotor Lens
Emerging research by Bhat (2022), Torres (2018), and others suggests we need a new framework—one that recognizes autism as a neuromotor condition, not just a social or cognitive one.
One promising model focuses on micromovements and sensory feedback loops that guide how we adjust our actions. In autism, these feedback systems appear disrupted, which makes movement harder to plan and control—and affects everything from self-care to social interaction.
Until this lens is adopted in mainstream therapy models, autistic children will remain underserved by approaches that don’t match their brain-body needs.
What You Can Do to Help Your Child Today
Even if professionals haven’t caught up yet, you can still take action. Here’s how:
1. Request a Comprehensive Motor Assessment
Don’t limit evaluations to behavior or speech. Ask for a full-body motor assessment—ideally by someone trained in neuromotor development and sensory integration. Spellers Center Atlanta can help you by providing your comprehensive motor assessment.
2. Don’t Let Labels Limit You
Your child doesn’t need a DCD or apraxia diagnosis to benefit from motor-based support. Focus on understanding how they move and where breakdowns happen.
3. Prioritize Integrated Motor Activities
Choose therapy activities that build whole-body awareness and motor planning. Think:
- Climbing, crawling, swinging
- Imitation and rhythm games
- Eye-hand coordination tasks
- Movement paired with vision and sensory input
4. Push for a Whole-Child Approach
Motor skills impact communication, regulation, and learning. Your child’s team should consider motor development as part of the bigger picture—not an afterthought.
Final Thoughts: Movement Matters More Than You Think
Your child’s motor difficulties are not a parenting failure—they’re rooted in biology, and they deserve real support.
By understanding motor planning in autism, you can ask better questions, demand more personalized support, and help your child build not just skills—but confidence and independence.
Autism is not just a behavior diagnosis. It’s a neurological and motor condition, too. And when we address the motor system, we unlock new paths to connection, communication, and success.
Your child deserves that chance—and you have the power to make it happen.
Be sure to check out the Spellers Documentary to see how Spellers Method has impacted people lives.
