Goal directed locomotion and balance control in autistic children.

This article focuses on postural anticipation and multi-joint coordination during locomotion in healthy and autistic children. Three questions were addressed. (1) Are gait parameters modified in autistic children? (2) Is equilibrium control affected in autistic children? (3) Is locomotion adjusted to the experimenter-imposed goal? Six healthy children and nine autistic children were instructed to walk to a location (a child-sized playhouse) inside the psychomotor room of the pedopsychiatric centre located approximately 5 m in front of them. A kinematic analysis of gait (ELITE system) indicates that, rather than gait parameters or balance control, the main components affected in autistic children during locomotion are the goal of the action, the orientation towards this goal and the definition of the trajectory due probably to an impairment of movement planning.

[Can successful reading acquirements be predicted?]. / Peut-on prédire la réussite de l'apprentissage de la lecture?

BACKGROUND: This research aims to register predictive tests of reading by way of a first intention test usually proposed in children with school difficulties: the WISC-R. POPULATION AND METHODS: Thirty-one children aged from 3.9 to 8.3 years, consulting in a psychiatry service for school difficulties, were tested twice. Twenty-one children aged less than 5.9 years (age for beginning to read), consulting for anticipated schooling, were also included in the study. These fifty-two children passed twice WISC-R for the elder and WPPSI for those who were younger. RESULTS: Three subtests, similitude test, understanding test and test of Kohs 'blocks seemed to be good predictive markers of ability to read. Predictive score for fiability with these three tests was 87%. CONCLUSIONS: These tests that bring the ability of generalizing into question, as reality and space adjustment, show well the necessary qualities for a child who must begin to read.