Avaliação de competência motora em escolares com Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo (TEA): possibilidades e dificuldades procedimentais para uso do KTK

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the motor competence profile of students with ASD based on the standard protocol of the Körperkoordinations test Für Kinder (KTK) and to identify the procedural possibilities and difficulties for the application of the standard protocol of the KTK in the population with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cross-sectional research was carried out with a quantitative approach. The sample group was selected for convenience. Eight male children were included, with a chronological age of 11.82 ± 1.43, diagnosed with ASD, level of severe disorder, with enrollment in regular education in the city of Maceió-AL. The group was submitted to the KTK battery of tests and the Autistic Traits Assessment (ATA) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scales were applied to the parents of the children in the group. The statistical analysis was descriptive, mean and standard deviation. The results showed that the values of the scores of the application of the ATA demonstrated that 37.5% of the children had scores <35 points and 62.5%> 36 points. Regarding CARS, all children had a severe intensity rating, with an interval of 45.5 to 59.5 points. The overall score of the coefficient for each of the four KTK tasks shows that of the eight children tested, only 62.5% of the group managed to carry out the assessment. The classification of coordinative failure was presented by five children and normal coordination for one child. The symptom profile, the lack of shared attention, the physical space for the application of the KTK, the material resource used in each of the four tasks of the instrument, the requirement for motor execution of the task and the type of tasks were perceived as elements that may reduce the chances of the population with ASD to participate in KTK assessment sessions. It can be concluded that the application of instruments with the objective of identifying the symptomatological profile can assist in the elaboration of procedural adjustments and adaptive materials for a better applicability for assessing the motor competence of children with ASD.