Fine motor deficiencies in children diagnosed as DCD based on poor grapho-motor ability

A sample of 125 children from grades 4 and 5 of two normal Dutch primary sc hools were investigated regarding the incidence of handwriting problems and other fine motor disabilities. Handwriting quality was assessed with the c oncise assessment method for children's handwriting (BHK) and the school qu estionnaire for teachers (SQT). Two groups of 12 children each were formed, one group of good writers and a group of poor writers selected from the lo wer performance range. The latter group was investigated in depth by assess ing general and fine motor ability using the Movement Assessment Battery fo r Children (M-ABC test) and the Motor Performance School Readiness Test (MS RT). We hypothesised that poor handwriting is part of a wider neuromotor co ndition characterised by faster and cruder movements, lack of inhibition of co-movements and poor co-ordination of fine motor skills. To test the theo ry kinematic measures of drawing movements were collected on the flower-tra il-drawing item of the M-ABC test. Moreover, the experimental group of poor writers received physiotherapy during a three-month period and was tested for handwriting proficiency after therapy and again nine months later. The results revealed that 34% of the group of 125 children displayed handwritin g problems. The analysis confirmed that serious handwriting problems are ac companied by fine motor deficits. We suggest that in these children an enha nced level of neuromotor noise is compensated for by enhanced phasic stiffn ess of the limb system. This results in higher movement velocity and fewer velocity peaks. In the children who received physiotherapy the quality of h andwriting improved. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.