Body balance and visual parameters in children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Autistic disorder, vestibular diseases, postural equilibrium, ocular fixation, sensory disorder
Introduction: Changes in sensory demands are cited since the earliest descriptions of Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Body balance is ensured by the integration of three sensory systems:
visual, proprioceptive and vestibular. The control of ocular movements is coordinated by the
vestibular system with support of the vestibular-ocular reflex. One of the characteristics that
support the diagnosis of ASD is the lack of eye contact. In the literature, studies show
alterations in postural control, control of ocular movements and changes in sensory integration.
Objective: To relate the postural balance of children diagnosed with ASD with the
characteristics of their eye movement patterns. Method: This is an observational,
cross-sectional study with a descriptive profile. Children with a diagnosis of ASD will be included
according to DSM V criteria, mild, aged between 7 and 12 years. They will be evaluated through
the functional sensory organization test and the Brazilian version of the Pediatric Body Balance
Scale, as well as evaluation of visual parameters with an eye-tracking equipment. The statistical
tests to be used will be the student T test or the Mann Whitney test, and the ANOVA or Kruskal
- Wallys and Tukey tests. The level of significance will be 5% for all tests. The software that will
be used in the statistical analysis will be the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS,
version 21.0). Expected results: It is expected that the results of the sensory organization test
will verify that there is a relationship between sensory interaction changes and visual contact
difficulties.