Limited Fine Motor and Grasping Skills in 6‐Month‐Old Infants at High Risk for Autism

Atypical motor behaviors are common among children with autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ). However, little is known about onset and functional implications of differences in early motor development among infants later diagnosed with ASD . Two prospective experiments were conducted to investigate motor skills among 6‐month‐olds at increased risk (high risk) for ASD ( N 1  = 129; N 2  = 46). Infants were assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning ( MSEL ) and during toy play. Across both experiments, high‐risk infants exhibited less mature object manipulation in a highly structured ( MSEL ) context and reduced grasping activity in an unstructured (free‐play) context than infants with no family history of ASD . Longitudinal assessments suggest that between 6 and 10 months, grasping activity increases in high‐risk infants.