Behind mathematical learning disabilities: What about visual perception and motor skills?

Finger counting to relieve working memory in children with developmental coordination disorder: Insights from behavioral and three-dimensional motion analyses

A limited number of studies have attempted to understand how motor deficits affect numerical abilities in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The purpose of this study was to explore the functionality of finger-counting (FC) in children with DCD. The participants, 15 children with DCD and 15 typically developing (TD) children matched on school level and fluid reasoning abilities, were asked to use FC to solve an ordinal task with high working memory (WM) load. Behavioral measures supplemented with biomechanical measures, from three-dimensional motion analysis synchronized to a voice recording were used to assess children's performance and FC functionality (total duration, inter-finger [IF] transition, IF variance, finger/voice synchronization, and automatization of FC movements). Children with DCD were less accurate than TD children in using FC to solve ordinal problems with high WM load. This group difference could not be accounted for by poor FC skills given that FC movement turned out to be as functional in children with DCD as in their TD peers. When added to the model as a covariate, WM captured a greater proportion of intergroup variability than manual dexterity, further suggesting that their difficulties would be better accounted for by limited WM resources than by fine motor skills.

Factors associated with mathematical capacity in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

BACKGROUND

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a condition characterized by difficulties in motor planning and coordination and affects 5 to 6% of all school-aged children. Children with DCD frequently present with difficulties with academic activities such as handwriting. However, no study to date has comprehensively described mathematical capacity and its potential associated factors in this high-risk group.

AIMS

We aimed to describe the frequency and nature of mathematical difficulties of school-aged children with DCD and to evaluate potential factors associated with mathematical performance.

METHODS

A total of 55 elementary school-aged children with DCD underwent comprehensive standardized assessments of mathematical, visuoperceptual (VP), attentional, visual-motor integration (VMI), and motor skills. The contribution of each factor to mathematical capacity was established using hierarchical multivariate linear regression models.

RESULTS

Children with DCD (9.1 ± 1.5 years, 44 males) had lower overall mathematical capacity compared to normative data (-0.59 SD) on the KeyMath 3rd edition, with poorer performance in basic concepts and problem-solving. Thirty-eight percent of the sample performed below the 15th percentile in overall mathematical skills. VP skills were the most important factors associated with most mathematical domains. Thirty-four percent of the variance of overall mathematical capacity was explained by VP skills, inattention, VMI and motor impairments while controlling for household income (F [5,49]=5.029, p < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Children with DCD present with mathematical difficulties in basic concepts and problem-solving, which are partially explained by VP skills. Our findings stress the important of systematically assessing mathematical difficulties children with DCD to ensure they receive the necessary support that leads to academic success.

Adding up fine motor skills: Developmental relations between manual dexterity and numerical abilities

The strength and development of the relationship between mathematical and motor skills is explored across three age groups of normally developing children. The presence of this relationship is postulated in classical accounts of human development. In contemporary research, the existence of a relationship between motor development and the development of abstract concepts may inform theories of embodied cognition. Existing work supports a link between fine motor skills and various numerical and mathematical tasks in young children; however, few attempts have been made to investigate this relationship across different ages. We use a cross-sectional design to investigate the link between fine motor and mathematical skills in samples of 81-96 Kindergarten, 2nd-grade, and 4th-grade children. Bayesian correlations were performed to explore the relationship between fine motor skills and mathematical skills at different time points. The results show that correlational patterns vary across the three ages: in Kindergarten, manual dexterity of the dominant hand is related to math skills, in 2nd grade, the manual dexterity of the nondominant hand is related to math skills; and finally in 4th grade no such correlations are observable. These findings contribute to understanding the developmental trajectory of the relationship between motor skills and mathematical abilities and the internalization of numerical embodiment. Further investigation is needed to determine if fine motor skills can serve as an early indicator of mathematical skill development risk. Future work could also explore whether incorporating spatial and motor elements into mathematical tasks through whole-body or finger movement training supports the development of mathematical skills.

Association between Visual Perception and Socioeconomic Status in Malaysian Preschool Children: Results from the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-4

Visual perception in children can be evaluated using the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-4th edition (TVPS-4) with normative data developed for the U.S. population. It is widely used by healthcare practitioners in Malaysia, despite reports that children in Asia outperform their U.S. peers in visual perception assessment. We compared TVPS-4 scores among 72 Malaysian preschool children (mean age: 5.06 ± 0.11 years) with U.S. norms and investigated the association between socioeconomic factors and TVPS-4 scores. Malaysian preschoolers had significantly higher standard scores (116.60 ± 7.16) than the U.S. norms (100 ± 15; p < 0.001). They also had significantly higher scaled scores (between 12.57 ± 2.10 and 13.89 ± 2.54) than the U.S. norms (10 ± 3, all p < 0.001) for all subtests. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that socioeconomic variables were not significant predictors for five visual perception subtests and the overall standard score. The visual form constancy score could be predicted by ethnicity (β = -1.874, p = 0.03). The visual sequential memory score could be predicted by the father's employment status (β = 2.399, p < 0.001), mother's employment status (β = 1.303, p = 0.007), and low household income (β = -1.430, p < 0.037). In conclusion, Malaysian preschoolers outperformed their U.S. peers in all TVPS-4 subtests. Socioeconomic variables were associated with visual form constancy and visual sequential memory, but not with the other five subtests or TVPS-4's overall standard scores.

Association between motor and math skills in preschool children with typical development: Systematic review

Mathematics has been the subject in which many school-age children have revealed many difficulties. Research carried out in an attempt to understand the causes of failure in this area pointed to a positive association between mathematical performance and motor performance. Given the importance of math development in future school outcomes, knowing which specific motor components are most associated with math performance can help educators define better strategies for teaching mathematics. In this sense, the present systematic review study aimed to identify the components of motor skills most positively associated with mathematical performance in children with typical development who attend preschool. The PRISMA methodology (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) was used in this study. The databases searched were ERIC, PubMED, SciELO, Scopus and Web of Science. A total of 2,909 articles were identified, of which 18 were included in this systematic review. The main results showed positive associations between fine motor skills, namely fine motor coordination and visuomotor integration, and mathematical performance. The math skill of numerical counting was the most associated with FMS. The main characteristics of the instruments used showed that the tasks of copying figures or drawings are the most used to assess visuomotor integration and the tasks of handling objects with pinch-like movements are the most used to assess fine motor coordination. Given the importance of mathematical performance in future school results, identifying early children with difficulties in fine motor skills will help educators to design better strategies for teaching mathematical skills. In this sense, the need to identify instruments to assess fine motor skills in preschool children with characteristics that facilitate their administration by the educator in the classroom context, i.e., requiring little administration time, not requiring much experience or training, the possibility of being administered to the group/class, few material resources, and the results can be easily interpreted, classified, and associated with mathematical performance.

Cognitive factors and educational placement affecting mathematical attainment in middle school students with mild intellectual disability

The study investigated the relationship between mathematics achievement, cognitive and motor skills, and general intellectual ability among seventy 10-12 years old students with mild intellectual disability (MID) attending regular school (n = 30) and special school (n = 40). The purpose of the study was to identify the critical deficits teachers need to consider when teaching mathematics at the secondary school level. The students attending regular schools had significantly higher fluid intelligence scores (p = 0.036), but we found no difference in the total score of the math achievement test. Special school students were more eager to use assistance and aids when solving math problems (p = 0.040). The study indicated significant associations between basic mathematical skills, verbal and visuospatial processing, and motor skills. Thus, it is essential to compensate for the delay of students' cognitive development to improve their basic mathematical skills and, in general, mathematical performance. The educational placement affects the willingness or ability to seek academic help when solving mathematical problems.

Specific Learning Disorder in Children and Adolescents, a Scoping Review on Motor Impairments and Their Potential Impacts

Mastering motor skills is important for children to achieve functional mobility and participate in daily activities. Some studies have identified that students with specific learning disorders (SLD) could have impaired motor skills; however, this postulate and the potential impacts remain unclear. The purpose of the scoping review was to evaluate if SLD children have motor impairments and examine the possible factors that could interfere with this assumption. The sub-objective was to investigate the state of knowledge on the lifestyle behavior and physical fitness of participants with SLD and to discuss possible links with their motor skills. Our scoping review included preregistration numbers and the redaction conformed with the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 34 studies published between 1990 and 2022 were identified. The results of our scoping review reflected that students with SLD have poorer motor skills than their peers. These motor impairments are exacerbated by the complexity of the motor activities and the presence of comorbidities. These results support our sub-objective and highlight the link between motor impairments and the sedentary lifestyle behavior of SLDs. This could lead to deteriorating health and motor skills due to a lack of motor experience, meaning that this is not necessarily a comorbidity. This evidence emphasizes the importance of systematic clinical motor assessments and physical activity adaptations.

Spatial skills and number skills in preschool children: The moderating role of spatial anxiety

Spatial ability is a strong and stable predictor of mathematical performance. However, of the three key components of spatial ability, spatial perception and spatial visualization have received less attention than mental rotation in relation to specific mathematical competencies of young children. Even less is known about the role of spatial anxiety in this relationship. This study examined the longitudinal relations of spatial perception and spatial visualization to three number skills (i.e., number line estimation, subitizing, and word problem-solving) among 190 preschool children, and whether these relations varied as a function of spatial anxiety. The results showed that children's spatial perception and spatial visualization skills, measured in the third preschool year (Time 1 [T1]), were positively associated with their word problem-solving six months later (Time 2 [T2]). Children's T1 spatial perception was also positively associated with their T2 subitizing and number line skills. In addition, T1 spatial anxiety moderated the relation between T1 spatial perception and T2 subitizing: the relation between the two was stronger for children with low levels of spatial anxiety than it was for those with moderate or high levels. The findings offer valuable insights into how spatial cognition and affect jointly relate to children's early number skills.

Domain-General Cognitive Skills in Children with Mathematical Difficulties and Dyscalculia: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Mathematical performance implies a series of numerical and mathematical skills (both innate and derived from formal training) as well as certain general cognitive abilities that, if inadequate, can have a cascading effect on mathematics learning. These latter skills were the focus of the present systematic review. Method: The reviewing process was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. We included 46 studies comparing school-aged children’s performance with and without math difficulties in the following cognitive domains: processing speed, phonological awareness, short- and long-term memory, executive functions, and attention. Results: The results showed that some general cognitive domains were compromised in children with mathematical difficulties (i.e., executive functions, attention, and processing speed). Conclusions: These cognitive functions should be evaluated during the diagnostic process in order to better understand the child’s profile and propose individually tailored interventions. However, further studies should investigate the role of skills that have been poorly investigated to date (e.g., long-term memory and phonological awareness).

Is there a relation between visual motor integration and academic achievement in school-aged children with and without ADHD?

Visual-motor integration, motor coordination, and visual perception are associated with academic achievement in early school-aged children; however, our understanding of these associations in older school-aged children and children with neurodevelopmental disorders is limited. A well-characterized, clinically evaluated sample of 39 children with and without ADHD ages 8-13 (M = 10.07, SD = 1.56; 14 girls; 67.5% White/non-Hispanic) were administered standardized academic and visual-motor integration tests. Results: Backward entry regression analyses that initially included age, sex, socioeconomic status, ADHD symptoms, comorbidities, and IQ revealed that better visual perception uniquely predicted better-developed reading (β = .38) and math skills (β = .21; both p < .03), whereas better motor coordination was associated with better reading (β = .25), writing (β = .50), and math skills (β = .21 all p < .05). The integration of visual perception and motor coordination processes was uniquely associated only with math skills (β = .28; p = .007). Children with ADHD exhibited significantly lower visual-motor integration (d = 1.16) and potentially motor coordination (d = 0.51), but did not differ from Non-ADHD children in terms of visual perception (d = 0.03). These findings extend prior evidence from younger, neurotypical samples, and indicate that underdeveloped visual-motor integration and/or its subcomponents (visual perception and motor coordination) reflect unique risk factors for academic underachievement in school-aged children's math, reading, and written language skills.

Creativity in mathematics performance: The role of divergent and convergent thinking

BACKGROUND

Creativity requires both divergent and convergent thinking. Previous research established that divergent thinking relates to mathematics performance, but generally ignored the role of convergent thinking and, hence, leaves it unclear how both might interact when children work on mathematical tasks. This study addressed this paucity in the research literature, with the goal of improving our understanding of the role of creative thinking in primary school mathematics.

AIMS

This study examined how divergent and convergent thinking contribute to mathematics performance, both directly and jointly, on single- and multiple-solution tasks.

SAMPLE

The study was conducted with 229 Dutch fifth graders of 12 primary schools.

METHOD

Divergent and convergent thinking were measured with a visual and verbal task. Path analysis was used including verbal and visual divergent and convergent thinking tasks in relation to single- and multiple-solution mathematics task performance. Working memory was included as a covariate.

RESULTS

Verbal convergent thinking positively predicted single- and multiple-solution task performance. Verbal divergent and convergent thinking interacted in relation to single-solution task performance, while visual divergent and convergent thinking interacted in relation to multiple-solution task performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Children's mathematics performance mainly relies on convergent thinking. The role of divergent thinking is twofold: it complements convergent thinking on multiple-solution tasks and compensates convergent thinking on single-solution tasks.

Perceptual reasoning skills mediate the relationship between attention and math proficiency in individuals with a neurodevelopmental condition

BACKGROUND

An important component of academic success in typically developing students is the development of math skills, which is associated with attention and perceptual reasoning (PR) skills. For children with a neurodevelopmental condition (NDC), the relationship is confounded by diagnostic-specific cognitive characteristics. Specifically, enhanced PR is specific to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to test: (i) a mediation model where PR skills would mediate the relationship between attention and math proficiency for students with an NCD, and (ii) whether this mediation model is moderated by a diagnostic profile.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

One hundred and thirty-seven students with an NDC participated in a school-based study examining the effectiveness of using a standardized measure of attention in predicting math capabilities.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

PR mediated the relationship between attention and math proficiency for students diagnosed with an NDC. However, the model was not moderated by diagnostic profile.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The results of this study provide a better understanding of the roles of higher-level cognitive ability specific to students with NDCs. Additionally, the superior PR skills demonstrated by the ASD sample further supports the research suggesting this population possesses cognitive strengths in this domain.

The relationship between mental rotation and arithmetic: do number line estimation, working memory, or place-value concept matter?

Mental rotation is positively related to arithmetic ability; however, the mechanism underlying this relationship remains unclear. The possible roles of working memory, place-value concept, and number line estimation in the correlation between mental rotation and whole-number computation were investigated. One hundred and fifty-five first-grade students were tested to determine their mental rotation ability, arithmetic ability, and non-verbal intelligence. One year later, their working memory, place-value concept, number line estimation, and overall arithmetic ability were assessed. After controlling for age, gender, and prior arithmetic ability, we found that mental rotation uniquely predicted arithmetic ability after one year. Further mediation analyses demonstrated that number line estimation significantly mediated the relationship between mental rotation and arithmetic ability. In contrast, neither working memory nor place-value concept significantly mediated the relationship between mental rotation and arithmetic ability. This study highlights that mental number line estimation is the most important element explaining the influence of a dynamic spatial skill, that is, mental rotation, on arithmetic ability among young Chinese children.

Mathematical skills in children with pilocytic astrocytoma

BACKGROUND

Pediatric patients with circumscribed cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) tumors generally perform within the normal range on neuropsychological tests after a complete tumor resection. The outcome in academically relevant abilities such as mathematics, which in adults involve some cerebellar functions, is however much less understood. The aim of this study is to retrospectively investigate the neuroplasticity of mathematical skills and associated cognitive functions following cerebellar resection of PA in pediatric patients.

METHODS

Twenty-two children (mean age = 11.2 + 1.8), including 11 PA patients (females = 6) and 11 healthy controls (females = 6), were administered a battery of mathematical (MaT) and neuropsychological tests. Single-case statistical analyses were carried out (Crawford's t) as well as between-group comparisons (Wilcoxon test). Spearman correlations between MaT and neuropsychological tests were calculated.

RESULTS

Thirty-six percent of the patients showed difficulties in some mathematical tasks, 50% of them within a broader cognitive deficit. Verbal working memory was associated with MaT performance both in patients and controls while, crucially, visuospatial memory, and visual-motor integration were associated with MaT in patients only. Among patients, MaT correlated negatively with tumor size and positively with the interval surgery test.

CONCLUSIONS

The results evince an overall recovery of mathematical abilities despite PA in the majority of patients. This functional reestablishment is supported by visuospatial and visuomotor integration functions that contribute to set up emerging mathematical skills in these patients. Higher levels of compensation are found in more developed tumors as compared to smaller ones.

Computerised Handwriting Speed Test System (CHSTS): Validation of a handwriting assessment for Chinese secondary students

BACKGROUND/AIM

Handwriting difficulties can be detrimental to students' performance in school tests and even in public examinations. It is crucial for school-based occupational therapists to identify students with handwriting difficulties and support them with appropriate adaptive strategies. The purpose of this study is to validate a computerised assessment - the Computerised Handwriting Speed Test System (CHSTS) of both Chinese and English handwriting for Chinese secondary students and provide an objective reference for extra time allowance in paper-based examinations.

METHODS

The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity of CHSTS were examined using the data from 512 typically developing students and 64 students with special educational needs (SEN) in Hong Kong mainstream secondary schools.

RESULTS

Handwriting performance of senior students was better than that of junior students. High internal consistency was shown by over 0.80 Cronbach's α in all measurement items and over 0.90 item-total correlations in temporal domain items. Intra-class correlation indicated good to excellent test-retest reliability of CHSTS (all P < 0.0001). Principal Component Analysis revealed that four components in CHSTS accounted for over 80% of the variance. Handwriting performance was positively associated with manual coordination, automaticity and oculomotor control (all P < 0.05) in linear regression analyses. Students with SEN could be effectively differentiated from typically developing students (over 75% sensitivity and specificity) based on the CHSTS items.

CONCLUSION

Validation of CHSTS is the groundwork for identifying students with handwriting difficulties and providing adaptive strategies including fair special examination arrangements for these students.

An overview and critique of the Test of Visual Perception Skills - fourth edition (TVPS-4)

Introduction

The Test of Visual Perception Skills - fourth edition (TVPS-4) is an updated version of the Test of Visual Perception Skills - third edition (TVPS-3). The TVPS-4 is a standardized assessment of motor-free visual perception skills for individuals aged 5-21 years. Test norms were derived from a normative sample that reflected the United States population.

Method

The present paper outlines and appraises the reliability and validity of the TVPS-4. Measurement properties of the TVPS-4 were critiqued using the Quality Criteria for Health Status Questionnaires (QCHSQ) and the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist with 4-point rating scale.

Results

The TVPS-4 manual reports details of reasonable levels and types of overall reliability and validity. The QCHSQ and COSMIN checklist reviews suggested that further research is needed in relation to the TVPS-4's measurement error, reproducibility, internal consistency and cross-cultural validity.

Conclusion

The TVPS-4 is an in-depth assessment that can be used to identify areas of impairment and assist with goal setting and intervention planning. The impact of the TVPS-4 on occupational therapy practice is also considered. Future research could investigate the cross-cultural validity of the TVPS-4 so that it can be used in other countries with confidence.

Influence of Different Visual Perceptual Constructs on Academic Achievement Among Learners in the NW-CHILD Study

Visual perception plays an important and integrating role in the development of cognitive abilities and perceptual-motor skills. Visual perception comprises different independent constructs that may function in an integrative manner. This study aimed to determine whether (and the extent to which) various visual-perceptual constructs influence the academic achievement of 12-year-old school children. In a cross-sectional analysis, we extracted only 2016 data from 581 learners (mean age = 12.92 years, SD = 0.42) who were participants in the North-West Child Health, Integrated with Learning and Development longitudinal study (2010-2016). We used the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills, Third Edition, the North-West Provincial Assessment and mid-year school examination reports to determine visual perceptual abilities and academic achievement of this participant group. We calculated correlations between visual perceptual constructs and academic performance using Spearman rank order correlations and separately analyzed the influence of gender and socioeconomic status with independent T tests. Different visual perceptual constructs did have significant influences on specific areas of academic learning and on academic achievement generally ( r = .26 to r = .41). Spatial relationships showed slightly greater correlations with academic achievement ( r = .15 to r = .33) than did other basic visual perceptual constructs, possibly because spatial relationships are not completely developed at age 12. Complex and basic visual perceptual skills had medium significant retrospective correlations with grade point average ( r = .40 and r = .41) and first additional language ( r = .30 and r = .33). We concluded that basic and complex visual perceptual constructs remain important for academic achievement in this age-group, while gender and socioeconomic status influence both visual perceptual abilities and academic achievement.

Psychomotor Ability and Short-term Memory, and Reading and Mathematics Achievement in Children

Objective

The aim of our study was to examine whether the findings from previous research, indicating the role of short-term memory as a mediator of the relationship between motor coordination and academic achievement in adolescents, is also evident in a younger child population.

Method

The study utilized a quantative cross-sectional design involving 133 children aged 8-12. The McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development (MAND) provided four indicators of psychomotor ability (Finger Nose, Walking, Balancing, and Jumping). The Woodcock-Johnson Cognitive battery and the Automated Working Memory Assessment (AWMA) provided two measures of short-term memory (Numbers Reversed and Digit Recall) and the WJIII Achievement battery provided two measures of reading achievement (Letter-word Identification and Passage Comprehension) and two measures of mathematics achievement (Applied Problems and Calculation). Structural equation modeling was used, controlling for age, processing speed, crystallized, and fluid intelligence where appropriate.

Results

The results found support for the hypothesis that short-term memory fully mediates the relationship between psychomotor ability and reading and mathematics achievement.

Conclusion

These findings indicate the significant affect of psychomotor ability on learning outcomes and consequently the need to assess these in considering learning difficulties, and as such these findings also advance understanding of developmental neural mechanisms underpinning the relationships.

Counting on fine motor skills: links between preschool finger dexterity and numerical skills

Finger counting is widely considered an important step in children's early mathematical development. Presumably, children's ability to move their fingers during early counting experiences to aid number representation depends in part on their early fine motor skills (FMS). Specifically, FMS should link to children's procedural counting skills through consistent repetition of finger-counting procedures. Accordingly, we hypothesized that (a) FMS are linked to early counting skills, and (b) greater FMS relate to conceptual counting knowledge (e.g., cardinality, abstraction, order irrelevance) via procedural counting skills (i.e., one-one correspondence and correctness of verbal counting). Preschool children (N = 177) were administered measures of procedural counting skills, conceptual counting knowledge, FMS, and general cognitive skills along with parent questionnaires on home mathematics and fine motor environment. FMS correlated with procedural counting skills and conceptual counting knowledge after controlling for cognitive skills, chronological age, home mathematics and FMS environments. Moreover, the relationship between FMS and conceptual counting knowledge was mediated by procedural counting skills. Findings suggest that FMS play a role in early counting and therewith conceptual counting knowledge.

Finger-Based Numerical Skills Link Fine Motor Skills to Numerical Development in Preschoolers

Previous studies investigating the association between fine-motor skills (FMS) and mathematical skills have lacked specificity. In this study, we test whether an FMS link to numerical skills is due to the involvement of finger representations in early mathematics. We gave 81 pre-schoolers (mean age of 4 years, 9 months) a set of FMS measures and numerical tasks with and without a specific finger focus. Additionally, we used receptive vocabulary and chronological age as control measures. FMS linked more closely to finger-based than to nonfinger-based numerical skills even after accounting for the control variables. Moreover, the relationship between FMS and numerical skill was entirely mediated by finger-based numerical skills. We concluded that FMS are closely related to early numerical skill development through finger-based numerical counting that aids the acquisition of mathematical mental representations.

Validity and Reliability of the Developmental Test of Visual Perception - Third Edition (DTVP-3)

The Developmental Test of Visual Perception - Third Edition (DTVP-3) is a recently published revision of a visual perceptual test from the United States, frequently used by occupational therapists. It is important that tests have adequate documented reliability and validity and are evaluated in cross-cultural contexts. The purpose of the study was to assess the reliability and validity of the DTVP-3 when completed by a group of Australian participants. Thirty-nine typically developing children 6-8 years of age completed the DTVP-3 and the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration - 6th edition (VMI-6). The internal consistency of the DVTP-3 was assessed using Cronbach alpha coefficients and the DTVP-3's convergent validity was examined by correlating it with the VMI-6 and its two supplementary tests. The five DTVP-3 subscales' Cronbach alpha coefficients ranged from.60 to.80 while its three composite indexes had coefficients all at the.80 level. The VMI-6 was significantly correlated with the DTVP-3 Figure Ground and Visual Closure subscales and the Motor-Reduced Visual Perception Index (MRVPI). The VMI-6 Visual Perception Supplementary Test was significantly correlated with the DTVP-3 Figure Ground, Visual Closure, Form Constancy, MRVPI, and General Visual Perception Index. The DTVP-3 exhibited acceptable levels of internal consistency and moderate levels of convergent validity with the VMI-6 when completed by a group of Australian children.

A STUDY OF CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT AND VISUAL PERCEPTION IN SIX-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

Visual perception comprises established responses to visual stimuli. Conceptual development accompanies the development of visual perception skills. Both visual perception and sufficient conceptual development is vital to a child's academic skills and social participation. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between conceptual development and visual perceptual skills of six-year-old children. 140 children were administered Bracken's (1998) Basic Concept Scale (BBCS-R) and the Frostig Developmental Visual Perception Test. BBCS-R scores were weakly correlated with FDVPT Discrimination of figure-ground, and had moderate and significant correlations with Constancy of the figures, Perception of position in space, Perception of spatial relation, and the Total score on visual perception. Also, a moderate correlation was found between the total scores of the FDVPT and the total score of the BBCS-R.

Identifying subtypes among children with developmental coordination disorder and mathematical learning disabilities, using model-based clustering

A relationship between motor and mathematical skills has been shown by previous research. However, the question of whether subtypes can be differentiated within developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and/or mathematical learning disability (MLD) remains unresolved. In a sample of children with and without DCD and/or MLD, a data-driven model-based clustering was used to identify subgroups of individuals with relatively homogeneous profiles on measures associated with motor and mathematical skills. One subgroup of children with motor problems was found based on motor variables. Based on mathematical variables, two clinical clusters were found: a subtype with number fact retrieval problems and a subtype with procedural calculation problems. Clustering with motor and mathematical skills revealed two clinical clusters: a cluster with number fact retrieval as well as procedural calculation problems and below average motor and visual-motor integration skills. A second cluster of children had only procedural calculation and visual-motor problems. Our results raise questions about the usefulness of placing children who have below average mathematical skills into a single diagnostic category. Furthermore, we inform ongoing debates about the overlap between DCD and MLD, as below average motor skills were found in both MLD subgroups, although a different motor profile is linked to a different mathematical profile.

Sensory and motor secondary symptoms as indicators of brain vulnerability

In addition to the primary symptoms that distinguish one disorder from the next, clinicians have identified, yet largely overlooked, another set of symptoms that appear across many disorders, termed secondary symptoms. In the emerging era of systems neuroscience, which highlights that many disorders share common deficits in global network features, the nonspecific nature of secondary symptoms should attract attention. Herein we provide a scholarly review of the literature on a subset of secondary symptoms––sensory and motor. We demonstrate that their pattern of appearance––across a wide range of psychopathologies, much before the full-blown disorder appears, and in healthy individuals who display a variety of negative symptoms––resembles the pattern of appearance of network abnormalities. We propose that sensory and motor secondary symptoms can be important indicators of underlying network aberrations and thus of vulnerable brain states putting individuals at risk for psychopathology following extreme circumstances.