Handwriting: A Perceptual-Motor Disturbance in Children with Myelomeningocele

Abstract

An explanation for the handwriting difficulties experienced by children with spina bifida myelomeningocele was sought within theframework of a closedloop theory of motor skill acquisition. The handwritingperformance of 34 children (16 boys and 18 girls) aged6.16 to 13.42 years was detailed with aoailable norms, Regression analyses were then performed for thefive handwriting components of speed, alignment, letter formation, spacing, and size. The regressions for speed, alignment, and letter formation reached statistical significance. For speed, age provided thegreatest explanation of performance (R2 = .62, P = .008). Alignment was explained substantially by age, handedness, scholastic aptitude, and kinesthesia (RZ = .55, P = .03). utter formation was detennined primarily by age and kinesthesia (R2 . 71, P = .001,). Theoverallregressionwasnotsignificantforspacing(RZ = .39, P = .30), or size (RZ = .35, P = .43), although a significant single degree of freedom was detectedfor theeffect of age. These findings are discussed in terms of skill acquisition theory.

A review of handwriting research: Progress and prospects from 1980 to 1994

“…Schneck (1991) found that first grade children in the United States with good kinesthetic finger awareness used a more mature handwriting grip than did students with poorer kinesthetic finger awareness. Ziviani, Hayes, and Chant (1990) indicated that kinesthesia added significantly to the prediction of letter formation and handwriting alignment of Australian children (ages 6 to 13) with spina bifida, a congenital anomaly, whereas a measure of visual perception and a test of motor planning did not. Lastly, Laszlo and Broderick (1991) reported that kinesthesia instruction had a positive effect on the handwriting of Australian students (ages 7 to 12) with handwriting difficulties and dyskinesthesia.…”

Perceived benefits of word prediction intervention on written productivity in children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus

“…Many children with spina bifida experience difficulty in developing functional writing skills (Anderson, 1976;Cambridge and Anderson, 1979;Pearson et al, 1988;Ziviani et al, 1990). By the time they enter Grade 3, these children typically fail to keep up with written work at school as the volume and complexity of writing increase (Wills, 1993).…”

“…By the time they enter Grade 3, these children typically fail to keep up with written work at school as the volume and complexity of writing increase (Wills, 1993). With reduced finger dexterity, finger agnosia and impaired kinaesthetic sensation, children with spina bifida often have difficulties developing typing skills, especially in terms of typing speed (Ziviani et al, 1990;Sandler, 1997). Word prediction programs are commonly recommended by occupational therapists to improve written productivity.…”

Handwriting in healthy people aged 65 years and over

“…Kinesthesia, age and academic ability accounted for 71% of the variability of letter formation in a study of 34 children (aged 6.2 to 13.4 years) with spina bifida (Ziviani, Hayes, & Chant, 1990). In contrast, another study of 143 Chinese children (Grades 3 to 5) did not find any correlation between kinesthesia and handwriting legibility (r = .11, p > .05) (Tseng & Murray, 1994).…”