Predictors of Quantitative and Qualitative Halstead Finger-Tapping Scores in Low Socioeconomic Status School-Age Children

Abstract

Two hundred and thirteen low socioeconomic school-age children in grades 1 through 8 were administered the Halstead Finger Oscillation (or Tapping) Test (HFTT). All children were age appropriate for their grade in school and were not requiring special education services. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that a composite age/grade classification score, gender, and estimated level of intelligence accounted for approximately 40% of the variability in dominant and nondominant hand scores for these children (multiple R = .627, R ² = +.393 for the dominant and multiple R = +.607, R ² = +.368 for the nondominant hand). Only the age/grade level of the child (R ² = .168) predicted the ability to inhibit adjacent finger movements when performing the HFTT task. Regional normative data for low socioeconomic school-age children are presented. Neurodevelopmental changes in the cortical and subcortical systems underlying finger movement may account for some of the variability observed in children when performing the HFTT.

Keywords:

• Finger tapping
• Speed
• Finger inhibition
• School-age children
• Low socioeconomic status

This research was funded, in part, through the Newsome Chair awarded to the first author, and by a grant from the Women's Board of the Barrow Neurological Institute via the efforts of Robert F. Spetzler, M.D.

Instrumental for collecting data for this study were Camea Gagliardi, Ph.D., Saurabh Gupta, M.C., Jennifer Sand, and Vicky Lomay, Ph.D. Saurabh Gupta, M.C., was especially helpful when carrying out statistical analysis. Special recognition is given to the Creighton School District in Phoenix, Arizona, for their willingness to allow us to examine children in this school district. The authors would also like to thank Mary Henry for her excellent secretarial and editorial support in preparing this manuscript.