How the way you WALK could reveal a hidden autism diagnosis – the 3 signs to look for in your child

Scottish Sun

4 days ago

Gait differences may be a supporting characteristic of autism - read on for the core traits of the condition and why they often go unnoticed
IN STEP How the way you WALK could reveal a hidden autism diagnosis – the 3 signs to look for in your child
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
AUTISM is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people socialise, communicate and interact with the world.
Autistic people may find socialising confusing or tiring, become overwhelmed in loud or crowded places and crave order and routine.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
Toe-walking, walking on tip toes or the balls of the feet, can be a characteristic of autism if it continues past early childhood
Credit: Getty
2
Walking with feet turned in can be another one - though autism isn't the only cause of this
Credit: Getty
But the condition - which is not an illness or disease that needs to be 'cured' - can also affect how some people move or walk, researchers say.
In fact, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) - a guide book widely used for diagnosing mental health conditions - lists an "odd gait" as supporting feature of autism.
Nicole Rinehart, a Professor of clinical psychology and director of the neurodevelopment program at Monash University outlined three "noticeable gait differences" autistic people might have in The Conversation.
These may include:
Toe-walking, walking on the balls of the feet In-toeing, walking with one or both feet turned inwards Out-toeing, walking with one or both feet turned out
Walking on the toes or the balls of the feet is fairly common in children who are just beginning to walk, until the age of three.
Most will outgrow it the habit.
If toe-walking doesn't correct itself over time, or begins suddenly, the NHS recommends children be assessed by a health professional for growth-growth related pain, neurodevelopmental disorders or autism.
"Children with autism spectrum disorder or sensory integration issues will frequently toe walk as it feels more comfortable for them," the East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust explains.
In and out-toeing are also fairly common and can simply be caused by the rotation of the thigh and shin bones, aside from autism.
Simple 10-question test that can help determine if you have autism
They don't usually need treatment and will go away on their own by the time a child is eight.
The NHS advises parents to speak a GP about their children's gait if they're worried about it.
Autism can cause other, more subtle changes to the way people walk, according to Prof Rinehart.
She pointed to 30-year study of autistic people, which found that some with the condition may:
Walk more slowly
Take wider steps
Spend longer in the 'stance' phase, when the foot leaves the ground
Take more time to complete each step
"Autistic people show much more personal variability in the length and speed of their strides, as well as their walking speed," Prof Rinehart wrote.
"Gait differences also tend to occur alongside other motor differences, such as issues with balance, coordination, postural stability and handwriting."
She explained that gait differences in autistic people might be caused by "differences in brain development".
What is autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an incurable, lifelong developmental condition that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.
It affects around one in 100 people in the UK and is three to four times more common in boys than in girls.
Many people with ASD find it hard to understand other people's feelings and emotions, and they may have difficulty holding conversations.
When they are young, their language development may take longer and they can struggle to use facial expressions, using gestures to communicate instead.
They may also find it hard to connect with other people and to hold eye contact with unfamiliar individuals.
Many children with ASD like to follow a routine, and changes to this can cause distress.
High functioning autism is an informal term some people use to describe those on the autism spectrum disorder.
Areas such as the basal ganglia - which is responsible for making walking effortless, smooth and automatic - and the cerebellum, which controls and coordinates movement, may develop differently in people with autism, the expert said.
"While some researchers have suggested that autistic gait occurs due to delayed development, we now know gait differences persist across the lifespan.
"Some differences actually become clearer with age."
Some people with gait differences may also have more difficulties with language and cognition.
In some cases, these signs can indicate that an autistic person is experiencing "sensory or cognitive overload" and might need some "extra support or a break" in that moment, the expert said.
Do gait differences need to be treated?
Differences in the way autistic people walk don't necessarily need to be treated, Prof Rinehart said.
"Some autistic people might have subtle gait differences that are observable during testing," she wrote.
"But if these differences don't impact a person's ability to participate in everyday life, they don't require support."
But some may be at increased risk of falls, have difficulty participating in sports or other physical activities, or may get pain in their legs or back from the way they walk.
In these cases, children may benefit from some additional support, whether that be from a clinic, at school, or in their local communities.
"Our community-based intervention studies show autistic children's movement abilities can improve after engaging in community-based interventions, such as sports or dance," Prof Rinehart said.
"Community-based support models empower autistic children to have agency in how they move, rather than seeing different ways of moving as a problem to be fixed."