Defective Sensory Integration and Developmental Coordination in Neurodevelopment Disorders: A Role Played By Hyperlaxity? A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: Hyperlaxity is a connective disorder characterized by qualitative variation in the structural protein collagen. Hyperlaxit shows an higher prevalence in some neurodevelopmental disorders, above all Autistic Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and Psichiatric conditions.The sensory alteration could have an important role to determinate an alterated output, and some previous studies reported a correlation between hyperlaxity and developmental coordination disorder.The aim of our study is to examinate the prevalence of hyperlaxity in a sample of children with neurodevelopmental disorder, to deepen the role of sensory organization in these patients and to determinate if there are a direct correlation between the coexisting presence between the level of hyperlaxity and the severity of the clinical conditions even during functional tasks (gait and balance). Methods: Four groups of children, aged between 8 and 15. Exclusion criterias were moderate to severe learning disability and genetic syndromic conditions. One group of typically developing children was randomly selected from the community; children that composed the other three groups (Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Tourette Syndrome) were recruited. All participants were assessed using semistructured interview Kiddie-Sads, parents structurated questionnaries and for the autistic group ADOS. We also used Brighton exploration for hypermobility and the Movement ABC 2 Battery. Postural control was assessed by Computerized Dynamic Posturography performed under three conditions (eyes opened, closed, dome) on stable and compliant surface (mate). Gait was evaluated using analysis of spatio-temporal parameters (i.e. gait speed, cadence, step length) Results: Results show that the more strong is the correlation between hyperlaxity scores and coordination disorder, the more is the severity of disorder. Moreover children with higher hyperlaxity scores have poorer balance performance. Conclusions: Co-existence of hyperlaxity and coordination disorder represent clinical expression of neuro-functional impairment. A central connective’s disorder can be prevalent in autistic spectrum disorders. We advanced the hypotesis that these patterns are associated with sensorimotor integration deficits.