Investigating the Maintained Motor Skill Achievements in a Visual Praxis Based Occupational Therapy Program: Single...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) often present with co-occurring motor skill deficits.
• Early intervention is crucial for addressing developmental challenges in children with SLDs.
• Occupational therapy programs can be tailored to target specific areas of difficulty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term efficacy of a Visual Praxis Based Occupational Therapy Program.
• To assess the impact of the program on the motor skills of children diagnosed with Specific Learning Disabilities.
• To determine if improvements in motor skills are sustained after the intervention period.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial design was employed with 96 children with SLDs.
• Participants were allocated to an experimental group (n=48) receiving the Visual Praxis Based Occupational Therapy Program and a control group (n=48).
• The Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test-2 Brief Form was administered at pre-test, post-test, and follow-up to evaluate motor skills.

Main Results:

• The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements across multiple motor skill domains, including fine motor precision, integration, bilateral coordination, balance, and upper extremity coordination (p ≤ 0.05).
• Overall motor proficiency, including speed and dexterity, also showed significant enhancement in the intervention group.
• These motor skill gains were effectively maintained at the follow-up assessment, indicating a lasting positive effect.

Conclusions:

• The Visual Praxis Based Occupational Therapy Program is an effective intervention for enhancing motor skill development in children with Specific Learning Disabilities.
• The program yields significant and durable improvements in various aspects of motor function.
• Occupational therapy interventions focusing on visual-motor integration can positively impact long-term developmental trajectories in children with SLDs.