Comparative Study of Shape and Velocity Reproduction in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Abstract

The increasing of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) highlights the need for enhancing screening techniques. This preliminary study aims at exploring automated screening based on online handwriting analysis. Two characteristics are evaluated to assess and compare the motor and cognitive skills of ADHD, ASD, and neurotypical children: the ability to complete square drawings in a repetitive copy task and the similarity, among subjects of the same group, of the velocity profiles recorded when repeated squares are drawn. The experiments involved a group of 235 individuals (27 ASD, 14 ADHD and 194 Control) from the age of 4 years to 12 years. Results show an increase in the number of completed squares in the group as age increases, with differences between children with typical development and those with neurodevelopmental disorders. Regarding speed profiles, individuals with ADHD show significant functional differences compared to the other two groups.