Children's Handwriting Evaluation Tools and Their Psychometric Properties

Abstract

Handwriting is an important area of evaluation for pediatric therapists. In selecting a handwriting instrument, therapists must not only consider a child's area of handwriting difficulty, but also the psychometric properties of the instrument chosen. This paper reviews five commonly used children's handwriting evaluation tools: (a) Diagnosis and Remediation of Handwriting Problems; (b) Minnesota Handwriting Test; (c) Children's Handwriting Evaluation Scale-Manuscript; (d) Evaluation Tool of Children's Handwriting-Manuscript; and (e) Test of Legible Handwriting. Each assessment is described including how it is administered, the scoring system, the reliability and validity of each instrument, and purchase information. The strengths and weaknesses of each tool are discussed along with factors affecting handwriting evaluation.

Key Words:

• Handwriting
• evaluation
• occupational therapy

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Katya Polena Feder

Michael Lepp, PT, is in private practice, Associate Instructor of the Upledger Institute, and Clinical Instructor, Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, Cleveland, OH.

Marie McKenzie, MS, OTR, is in private practice. She was Coordinator of Occupational Therapy at Scottish Rite Hospital at the time of this study.

Heather Miller, MS, OTR/L, is currently employed by Madison County Educational Service Center, providing therapy services to the county's pre-schools. This research was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements of an MS degree at Ohio State University.

Linda Viscardis, BA, is Team Leader and Community Development Worker, Peterborough Family Enrichment Centre. She is Co-Founder of P.R.O.S.P.E.C.T.S., a support and advocacy group for families who have children with special needs.

Debra Stewart, BSc, OT(C), is Occupational Therapist, Erinoak, Serving Young People with Physical Disabilities, Mississauga, ON, and Clinical Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University.

Janette McDougall, MA, was Project Coordinator

Kip Husted, BEd, was a parent representative on the study team.

Aviva Yochman, MA, OTR, was a student in the School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel at the time of this study.

Imelda Burgman, MA OTR/L BCP, completed her MA in Movement Sciences at Teachers College, Columbia University, and was an Occupational Therapist at The Shield Institute, Bronx, NY. She is currently Lecturer, Habilitation, School of Community Health, Faculty of Health Studies, Charles Sturt University, Albury, N.S.W., Australia.

Barbara J. Steva, OTWL, BCP, is Occupational Therapist, University of New England Community Occupational Therapy Clinic, Saco, ME. She was Director of Occupational Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation, Franciscan Children's Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Boston, MA, when this work was completed.