A Cognitive-Developmental Analysis of Drawing Abilities in Children with and Without Myelomeningocele

Abstract

Drawing abilities in children were investigated with in a neo-structural framework of development. Case's theory of cognitive development provided the conceptual base for this study. Forty non-handicapped and 12 children with myelomeningocele whose ages fell within the range of four and ten years were tested. Two hypotheses: (1) that children with myelomeningocele will develop drawing behaviors accoding to the same sequence of structural changes as do normal children, and (2) that the drawings produced by the handicapped children will be qualitatively inferior to those of the normal children were supported. This study suggests that a cognitive-developmental (neo-structural) approach may be potentially useful to pediatric occupational and physical therapists for the assessment and training of other fine and gross motor skills in various developmentally disabled populations.