title: Handwriting performance in preterm children compared with term peers at age 6 to 7 years.
abstract: Preterm infants are at high risk for developmental impairments at school age. However, the impact of these impairments on important life skills, such as handwriting, is unknown. Forty-eight first-grade children (27 males, 21 females; mean age 6y 7mo, SD 3.9mo; range 6y 1mo to 7y 3mo) born preterm (birthweight < 1250g; gestational age < 34wks), without major physical or cognitive disabilities, were matched to 69 healthy, term control children (32 males, 37 females; mean age 6y 10mo, SD 3.6mo; range 6y 3mo to 7y 4mo) by sex and school class. All children were assessed using the Evaluation Tool of Children's Handwriting-Manuscript and several sensorimotor measures. Preterm children demonstrated significantly lower legibility and slower speed scores (p < 0.01) compared with control children for most of the handwriting tasks. Factors associated with legibility were visual perception and eye-hand coordination (r < 0.50; p < 0.05) and sex (r < 0.12; p = 0.01). In-hand manipulation and finger identification (r < 0.43; p < 0.01) were significantly correlated with slow handwriting speeds. Behaviour difficulties associated with hyperactivity and poor attention (Connors Abbreviated Symptoms Questionnaire) had a confounding influence on both legibility and speed. These findings may help guide early identification efforts and medical/therapeutic interventions for preterm children.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Science, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. kfeder@cyberus.ca
authors.forename: Katya P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Feder
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majnemer
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bourbonnais
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blayney
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Synnes
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001724:Birth Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010379:Peer Group; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic