Scores on test of gross motor development of children with dysphasia: a pilot study

The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to assess the gross motor skill and trainability of children with dysphasia using the Test of Gross Motor Development. 27 children from 7 to 12 years (M=9.6 yr., SD=1.3) from four different classes in one special school participated. The gross motor skill scores of a sample of children with dysphasia, their trainability of the gross motor skills, and the intrarater reliability of the test were examined. Based on the videotaped performances the intrarater reliability was .93 to .97 for total scores, but lower for individual test items. Mean motor skill scores of these children with dysphasia were interpreted as 'poor' relative to those of the standardization and the reference group. The 8-wk. intervention showed statistically significant improvement from pre- to posttest values. Mean locomotor skills improved from 2.7 (SD=.4) to 2.8 (SD=.4), and the object control skills from 2.4 (SD=.7) to 2.8 (SD=.7). It appears these children with language disorders do not possess a similar basic gross motor level as their peers without language problems.