Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 50 No. 3, 2011.
Original scientific paper
Development of Early Graphomotor Skills in Children with Neurodevelopmental Risks
Valentina Matijević-Mikelić
Tena Košiček
Maja Crnković
Zvjezdana Trifunović-Maček
Simeon Grazio
Abstract
Drawing as an early form of a child’s graphomotor skill is used as an element in the assessment of visual-motor coordination. Development of artistic expression is a precursor of the later development of writing that requires a high degree of coordination and precision. Children with perinatal impairment of the central nervous system and prematurely born children belong to a group of children with neurodevelopmental risk. Some of the possible results of this type of difficulty can be mild forms of motor disabilities. A retrospective study was conducted by archive review of children under the age of 3 hospitalized at University Department of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center. The aim was to determine the incidence of graphomotor difficulties in children with perinatal impairments of the central nervous system and prematurely born children. The study included 50 children aged 12-36 months. The results showed 72% of the tested children to have drawings within the limits expected for their age, 13 children showed graphic abilities below the expectations for their age, while one child did not show functional use of pen. Literature indicates a common learning disability and difficulties with attention and fine motor skills in preschool and particularly in schoolchildren born with neurodevelopmental risk. This study therefore suggests that, despite good initial compensation in the early development of graphomotor skills, it is necessary to maintain follow-up procedures in order to prevent later difficulties in the development of graphomotor and writing skills.
Keywords
Motor skills; Handwriting; Language disorders; Developmental disabilities; Developmental psychomotor disorders; Obstetric labor, premature; Central nervous system – development
Hrčak ID:
84088
URI
Publication date:
8.9.2011.
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