title: Visual-perceptual-kinesthetic inputs on influencing writing performances in children with handwriting difficulties.
abstract: This study investigated the role of visual-perceptual input in writing Chinese characters among senior school-aged children who had handwriting difficulties (CHD). The participants were 27 CHD (9-11 years old) and 61 normally developed control. There were three writing conditions: copying, and dictations with or without visual feedback. The motor-free subtests of the Developmental Test of Visual Perception (DTVP-2) were conducted. The CHD group showed significantly slower mean speeds of character production and less legibility of produced characters than the control group in all writing conditions (ps<0.001). There were significant deteriorations in legibility from copying to dictation without visual feedback. Nevertheless, the Group by Condition interaction effect was not statistically significant. Only position in space of DTVP-2 was significantly correlated with the legibility among CHD (r=-0.62, p=0.001). Poor legibility seems to be related to the less-intact spatial representation of the characters in working memory, which can be rectified by viewing the characters during writing. Visual feedback regarding one's own actions in writing can also improve legibility of characters among these children.
authors: Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Linda F L
authors: LF
authors: Tse
authors: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors: Kannan C
authors: KC
authors: Thanapalan
authors: Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: Chetwyn.Chan@polyu.edu.hk.
authors: Chetwyn C H
authors: CC
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Handwriting; Learning disabilities; Legibility; Writing Chinese