Reaction Time of Children with and without Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate and compare simple and choice reaction times for the comparison of perceptual-motor development levels found in children with and without autism. The participants of the study consisted of 24 children with autism and 10 typically developing (TD) children. Within the group of children with autism, only 10 were able to offer a full set data and four offered partial data. Data were collected through a computer-based pro-cedure of reaction time test software, where the participant reacted by press-ing a key on a laptop upon the appearance of one of the boxes turning yellow. Simple and choice reaction times appeared on the screen and were then rec-orded. The means and standard deviations were calculated for comparison and the data were evaluated from the results of a t-test. Significant differences were found among all reaction time tasks, whereas the group consisting of children with autism demonstrated slower reaction times and greater standard devia-tions compared with the typically developing/control group.