Handwriting in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: Is Legibility the Only Indicator of a Poor Performance?

Abstract

Research on the use of speed, as an indicator of motor handwriting problems, is controversial and the legibility of the text is the measure mostly examined in children. This case-control study compared handwriting legibility and speed in 25 children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and 75 typically developing peers matched by school grade (third and fourth grade). Children with DCD achieved significantly lower scores than their peers in both legibility and speed measures, overall and in the third and in the fourth grade independently. These measures represent a good insight into children’s writing abilities and could be both used to screen and monitor.

Keywords:

• BHK Scale
• children
• DCD
• handwriting speed
• poor handwriting legibility

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Compliance with ethical standards

The authors declare that the study was approved with the Prot. Number P-434-13 (30.10.2013) of the Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatric Department of Rome, and the procedures followed in this study were under the ethical standards developed by the Declaration of Helsinki of 1975, which were revised in 1983. Written informed consent was collected and preceded by a detailed explanation to the participants (children and families) on the phases and the study’s finality. Personal data were respected and protected during the storing process.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carlo Di Brina

Carlo Di Brina, is a MD, Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatrist at Policlinico Umberto I° Hospital in Rome, PhD in Experimental and Clinical Neuroscience. His specific areas of interest: Handwriting Analysis, Developmental Coordination Disorder and Cerebral Palsy.

Barbara Caravale

Barbara Caravale, is a MD, Researcher in Child Neuropsychiatry at Sapienza University of Rome. Her specific areas of interest: developmental outcome of preterm children, early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders and Developmental Coordination Disorder.

Nadia Mirante

Nadia Mirante, is a Psychologist researcher and biostatician. Previous publication on children neuropsychological disease.