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South African Journal of Occupational Therapy

versão On-line ISSN 2310-3833
versão impressa ISSN 0038-2337

S. Afr. j. occup. ther. vol.39 no.2 Pretoria Ago. 2009

 

 

 

Visual-motor integration (VMI) - a predictor for handwriting in Grade 0 children

 

 

Pragashnie NaidooI; Amy EngelbrechtII; Sharon LewisIII; Bridget KekanaIV

IB.OT (UDW); Senior Tutor, Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Audiology, Occupational Therapy & Speech-language Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
IIB.Occ.Th (UKZN); Occupational Therapist in paediatric private practice
IIIB.Occ.Th (UKZN); School-based Occupational Therapist in the United Kingdom
IVB.Occ.Th (UKZN); Occupational Therapist, Lebowakgomo Hospital, Limpopo Province

Correspondence

 

 


ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Occupational therapists (OTs) are often faced with the late referral of children with handwriting difficulties when intervention is less effective. It is thus essential for the OT and the teacher to be able to identify these children early for maximum therapeutic intervention. The researchers therefore attempted to investigate whether visual motor integration (VMI) can be a predictor of handwriting skills in Grade 0 children
METHODOLOGY: A standardised visual perceptual test (the Test ofVisual Motor Integration) 9 and handwriting assessments were conducted with 53 Grade 0 children in mainstream schools around Durban in an attempt to establish a link. Handwriting was analysed using adapted criteria from the Writing Rate Information Test (WRIT), which was developed by Steinhardt et al10 in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
RESULTS: A significant correlation between the formation of letters e, f, and k and visual motor integration (VMI) was noted in the sample, whilst no significant link was found between legibility of handwriting and VMI. A relationship was found between writing the name from memory and VMI and a significant correlation was found when comparing reversals in a child's attempt at writing their name from memory and his / her VMI score
It was concluded that visual-motor integration as determined by the Test of Visual Motor Integration can be a significant predictor of a child's ability to form letters, write his name from memory and of the presence of letter reversals in writing in the Grade 0 child.

Key words: VMI, Handwriting, Letter Formation, Handwriting Legibility, Grade 0


 

 

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References

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2. Goyen TA and Duff S. Discriminant validity of the Developmental test of Visual-Motor Integration in relation to children with handwriting dysfunction. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. 2005; 52(2): 109 - 115.         [ Links ]

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13. Dankert HL, Davies PL, Gavin WJ. Occupational Therapy effects on visual-motor skills in preschool children. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2003; 57(5): 542-549.         [ Links ]

14. Steinhardt RC, Richmond JE and Smith W. Writing Rate Information Test. Unpublished, 2005.         [ Links ]

15. Viljoen E and Steyl H. Unpublished. Checklist For Evaluation From 13 months to 6 years. [Accessed from Wendy Smith at Livingstone Remedial School in March 2006].         [ Links ]

16. The SAS institute. The Statistical Analysis System (SAS). http://www.sas.com (accessed 20 March 2006).         [ Links ]

17. Brindise S. Look, Write & Remember Letter Formation Practice Pages: 52 Reproducible, Hands-On Lessons That Really Help All Children Visualize, Write, and Learn Each Letter of the Alphabet. New York, United States of America: Scholastic, Inc, 2002.         [ Links ]

 

 

Correspondence:
Pragashnie Naidoo
Senior Tutor
Discipline of Occupational Therapy
School of Audiology, Occupational Therapy & Speech-language Pathology
Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
E-mail: naidoopg@ukzn.ac.za

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