The Effect of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Characteristics on Aspects of Social Functioning

Abstract

Aim

The purpose of this study was to estimate the extent to which neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD's) symptoms (motor, sensory, attention and executive function) are associated with aspects of social function among school aged children.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 39 children aged 6–9 years old (71.8% boys) who were referred to child development centers due to motor, sensory, and/or cognitive difficulties. The parents completed NDD's symptoms questionnaires: Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire; Child Sensory Profile-2; Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) Rating Scale and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. They also completed the Social Skills Improvement System and a social participation measure.

Results

Analysis demonstrated low to moderate correlations between social functioning aspects and the majority of NDD's symptoms. Executive functioning was the only predictor of social skills and social participation and accounted for most of the variability of behavioral problems, alongside a small contribution of ADHD symptoms.

Conclusion

The findings contribute to the accumulating body of knowledge regarding social abilities of children with NDD's and suggest new information as to the effect of executive functions in this domain. Along with conducting a routine evaluation of social skills among children suspected to have NDD's, executive functions should also be comprehensively evaluated.

Keywords:

• Behavioral problems
• executive function
• motor skills
• sensory modulation
• social participation
• social skills

Acknowledgments

This research was not supported through any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for profit sectors. The authors would like to thank all the parents who agreed to participate in this study.

Data Availability Statement

Authors agree to make data and materials supporting the results or analyses presented in their paper available upon reasonable request (via an email to the corresponding author). Data will be shared only if the request is ethically correct to do so, where this does not violate the protection of human subjects, or other valid ethical, privacy, or security concerns.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

M. Tal-Saban

Dr. M. Tal-Saban is an occupational therapist and researcher at the Laboratory for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in the School of Occupational Therapy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Dr. Tal Saban specializes in neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan, with a particular focus on developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Her research also centers on participation abilities, particularly social participation, as well as quality of life and cognitive abilities.

S. Zaguri-Vittenberg

S. Zaguri-Vittenberg is a certified occupational therapist and doctoral student at the Laboratory for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in the Hebrew University. Her research practice area is neurodevelopmental disorders, especially adults with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and their bio-psycho-social aspects.

E. Ozeri

E. Ozeri is an occupational therapist working at the Child Development Institute clinics of Clalit Health Services in the southern region of Israel. Esther specializes in treating children with various neurodevelopmental disorders.

A. Yochman

Dr. A. Yochman is an occupational therapist, researcher, and expert in the field of sensory regulation across different populations and age groups. Dr. Yochman investigates the relationships between sensory modulation and participation, as well as behavioral and emotional regulation.