A short-term graphomotor program for improving writing readiness skills of first-grade students. |
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Authors: | Navah Z Ratzon Daniela Efraim Orit Bart |
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Institution: | Sackler Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Professions, Department of Occupational Therapy, Tel Aviv University, P.O.B. 39040, Tel Aviv 69978 Israel. navah@post.tau.ac.il |
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Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: Children with fine-motor problems and handwriting difficulties often are referred for occupational therapy. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of a short-term treatment on the fine-motor and graphomotor skills of first-grade students. METHOD: We recruited 52 first-grade students who had scored below the 21st percentile on the Visual-Motor Integration test from schools in a city with a low socioeconomic, mixed (Arab and Jewish) population. The children were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. Before and after the intervention, we administered two tests to both groups. RESULTS: Students in the intervention group made significant gains both in the total score on the graphomotor test (Developmental Test of Visual Perception) and on the fine-motor test (Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Development Scale). CONCLUSION: This study provided preliminary evidence of the efficacy of a short-term graphomotor intervention. The results increased the feasibility of implementing occupational therapy intervention in the Israeli school system, allowing treatment of more children using the same resources. |
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