Differences in Perceptual-Motor Measures in Children with Good and Poor Handwriting

The concept that handwriting is primarily a perceptual-motor act is held by various authors (Chapman & Wedell, 1972; Furner, 1969; Sovick, 1975; Ziviani, Hayes, & Chant, 1990). However, the assumption that poor handwriters would perform less well than good handwriters on perceptual-motor tests has not yet been well researched. The purpose of this study was to examine this assumption as well as the relationship of perceptual-motor abilities to the legibility of handwriting. One hundred forty-three Chinese children in grades 3 through 5 served as subjects. Perceptual-motor tests that measured the abilities proposed to be subskills of handwriting were administered along with a handwriting test. Results showed that poor handwriters scored more poorly than good handwriters on most of the perceptual-motor tests. Regression analysis revealed that among the perceptual-motor measures visual-motor integration, as measured by the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, and eye-hand coordination, as measured by the Motor Accuracy Test, contributed most to the legibility of handwriting for the total group of handwriters. However, for poor handwriters, results of a stepwise regression analysis revealed that motor planning, as measured by the Finger Position Imitation Test, contributed the most to the legibility of handwriting. In contrast, for good handwriters, visual perception, as measured by the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills, contributed most to the legibility of handwriting.