Assessment of Kinematic and Kinetic Attributes of Graphic Execution of Children With Autism and Typically Developing Children Using a Digitized Platform

Abstract

Intact graphic execution ability is considered an important gateway to one's academic success. It is often reported that the graphic execution ability of neurotypical children and those having autism, i.e., children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is differentiated. Although insightful, these reports had been mostly for text handwriting task that is not language agnostic (with observations related to a writer's language skills), thereby emphasizing the importance of assessing graphic execution ability during language-agnostic graphic task. The assessment can be carried out in terms of kinetic (e.g., grip force exerted on the pen barrel, in-hand manipulation of the pen, etc.) and kinematic (e.g., speed of the pen-tip, pen-tip pressure, etc.) attributes. Given the importance of assessing one's graphic execution ability and the use of language-agnostic platform, in our study, we present the design of a language-agnostic digitized platform that can assess the kinematic and kinetic attributes of one's graphic execution ability. We included shape drawing (with varying turns) as the graphic task. Also, we carried out a study in which 25 neurotypical children and 25 children with ASD took part. Results indicated that, irrespective of the shape being drawn, the kinematic and kinetic attributes of graphic execution were differentiated between the two participant groups. Our system has the potential to help teachers, therapists, etc., to assess one's graphic execution ability and adopt timely strategies addressing the difficulties (if any) faced by a child.