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Measuring dexterity in children using the Nine-hole Peg Test
Janet L Poole1, Patricia A Burtner, Theresa A Torres
1Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA. jpoole@salud.unm.edu
Insights
This study measured dexterity in 406 children using the Nine-hole Peg Test, finding that fine motor skills improve with age, are faster in females, and are better with the dominant hand.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric medicine
- Neuroscience
- Developmental psychology
Background:
- Dexterity is crucial for daily activities and academic performance in children.
- Fine motor skills develop throughout childhood and adolescence.
- The Nine-hole Peg Test is a standardized tool for assessing hand dexterity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative data for hand dexterity in children aged 4-19 years using the Nine-hole Peg Test.
- To investigate the effects of age, gender, and hand dominance on dexterity in children.
- To provide a benchmark for identifying fine motor difficulties in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Four hundred and six children aged 4-19 years participated in the study.
- Each child completed the Nine-hole Peg Test using both their dominant and nondominant hands.
- Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify significant factors affecting dexterity.
Main Results:
- Dexterity significantly improved with increasing age.
- Females demonstrated faster performance than males across all age groups.
- Hand dominance played a significant role, with faster times recorded for the dominant hand.
Conclusions:
- The study provides valuable normative data for the Nine-hole Peg Test in a pediatric population.
- These findings can aid clinicians in screening for and diagnosing fine motor deficits in children.
- Understanding age, gender, and hand dominance effects is essential for accurate interpretation of dexterity assessments.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to measure dexterity in children aged 4-19 years using the Nine-hole Peg Test. Four hundred and six children were tested with their dominant hand and then their nondominant hand. A commercial version of the Nine-hole Peg Test was used. An analysis of variance showed a main effect for age, gender, and hand dominance. Speed of dexterity improved with age. In all age groups, females performed faster than males. Participants performed faster with the dominant hand than the nondominant hand. The normative data collected provide information for comparing scores to children with different diagnostic categories to screen for fine motor difficulties.
