DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES IN PRAXIS IN LEARNING-DISABLED AND NORMAL-CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Gestures made on tasks in response to verbal command or to imitation a nd on tasks involving axial and distal movements were compared for gro ups of learning-disabled and normal children and adults. The 15 learni ng-disabled children and 15 adults scored lower than the 15 normal chi ldren and 15 adults on all tasks. All groups scored higher on imitatio n than on verbal command and scored similarly on the axial and distal tasks. The findings from this study suggest that it would be worthwhil e to test the hypothesis that dyspraxic behaviors may persist into adu lthood.