Executive and motor function in children with autism spectrum disorder.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between executive function, mainly attention and impulse control, and motor function impairment in children with ASD. Fifteen children with ASD (ages 8-14 years) were examined on their executive function using the Conners continuous performance test-3 and motor function using the movement assessment battery for children-2 (MABC-2). It was found that children with ASD were delayed on executive and motor function. This means that those effects were also observed in male children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who had similar characteristics as the participants in the study. This study may have practical implications in the relationship between executive function and motor performance in children with ASD and for clinicians and educators working with children with ASD. Furthermore, the findings suggest that variability in reaction time may be a useful predictor of motor skill performance in children with ASD and may reflect underlying difficulties in executive function and future research is suggested.

Is Motor Milestone Assessment in Infancy Valid and Scaled Equally Across Sex, Birth Weight, and Gestational Age? Findings From the Millennium Cohort Study.

Is the assessment of motor milestones valid and scaled equivalently for all infants? It is not only important to understand if the way we use gross and fine motor scores are appropriate for monitoring motor milestones but also to determine if these scores are confounded by specific infant characteristics. Therefore, the aim of the study is to investigate the latent structure underlying motor milestone assessment in infancy and measurement invariance across sex, birth weight, and gestational age. For this study, the birth cohort data from the United Kingdom Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) was used, which includes the assessment of eight motor milestone tasks from the Denver Developmental Screening Test in 9-month-old infants (N = 18,531), depicting early motor development of the first children of generation Z. Confirmatory factor analyses showed a better model fit for a two-factor structure (i.e., gross and fine motor development) compared to a one-factor structure (i.e., general motor development), and multiple indicators multiple causes modeling revealed no differential item functioning related to sex, birth weight, and gestational age. The study provides support for the use of gross and fine motor scores when assessing motor milestones in infants-both boys and girls with different birth weights and of varying gestational ages. Further investigation into widely adopted assessment tools is recommended to support the use of valid composite scores in early childhood research and practice.

Construct validity of the Motor Development Scale (MDS).

OBJECTIVE: Construct validity for the Motor Development Scale (MDS) has not been established. The aim of this study was to examine whether the unidimensional model of MDS would be appropriate for children aged 4 to 6 years-old and provide construct validity for the items concerning this age group in Brazil. METHODS: A total of 938 children participated in the study (214 4-year-olds, 643 5-year-olds, and 81 6-year-olds). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate construct validity of the MDS using a unidimensional model. RESULTS: The CFA for the unidimensional model showed excellent adequacy indices for age 4: χ2(2) = 0.581, p = 0.748, comparative fit index (CFI) = 1.000, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 1.090, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.000 (90% confidence interval [90%CI] = 0.000 to 0.093, close fit [Cfit] = 0.841); age 5: χ2(2) = 2.669, p = 0.263, CFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.980, RMSEA = 0.023 (90%CI = 0.000 to 0.085, Cfit = 0.682), weighted root mean square residual (WRMR) = 0.407; and age 6: χ2(9) = 8.275, p = 0.506, CFI = 1.000, TLI = 1.010, RMSEA = 0.000 (90%CI = 0.000 to 0.118, Cfit = 0.653), WRMR = 0.495. Reliability was good: ω = 0.87 (95%CI = 0.81 to 0.92). CONCLUSION: The proposed unidimensional solution for the MDS provides a concise, parsimonious and reliable way to assess motor development in children aged 4 to 6 years.

Influence of birthweight on childhood balance: Evidence from two British birth cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Birthweight is an important predictor of various fundamental aspects of childhood health and development. AIM: To examine the impact of birthweight on childhood balance performance classification and verify if this is replicable and consistent in different populations. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective birth cohort study. SUBJECTS: To describe heterogeneity in balance skills, latent class analyses were conducted separately with data from the 1958 National Child Development Study - NCDS (n = 12,778), and the 1970 British Cohort Study - BCS (n = 12,115). OUTCOME MEASURES: Four balance tasks for NCDS and five balance tasks for BCS. RESULTS: Birthweight was assessed as a predictor of balance skills. In both cohorts, two latent classes (good and poor balance skills) were identified. In both cohorts, higher birthweight was associated with a higher likelihood of having good balance skills. Boys were less likely to have good balance compared to girls. CONCLUSIONS: The results establish the reproducibility and consistency of the effect of birthweight on balance skills and point to early intervention for individuals with lower birthweight to mitigate the impact of motor impairment.

Motor skills assessments: support for a general motor factor for the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the construct validity and model-based reliability of general and specific contributions of the subscales of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2) when evaluating motor skills across a range of psychiatric disorders. METHODS: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and bifactor analysis were conducted on BOT-2 data from 187 elementary school students (grades 1 to 6) (mean age: 113 ± 20 months; boys: n = 117, 62.56%) and on MABC-2 data from 127 elementary school students (grade 1) (mean age: 76 ± 2 months; boys: n = 58, 45.67%). RESULTS: The results of the CFA fit the data for multidimensionality for the BOT-2 and presented poor fit indices for the MABC-2. For both tests, the bifactor model showed that the reliability of the subscales was poor. CONCLUSIONS: The BOT-2 exhibited factorial validity with a multidimensional structure among the current samples, but the MABC-2 showed poor fit indices, insufficient to confirm its multidimensional structure. For both tests, most of the reliable variance came from a general motor factor (M-factor), therefore the scoring and reporting of subscale scores were not justified for both tests.

The trajectory of balance skill development from childhood to adolescence was influenced by birthweight: a latent transition analysis in a British birth cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To identify classes of balance skills and their trajectories from childhood to adolescence and the association of birthweight with these trajectories. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Participants (n = 13,443) from the 1970 British Cohort Study were assessed for four balance skills in childhood and adolescence. Latent class analysis was used to determine classes of balance skills over time, and latent transition analysis was used to explain the association between birthweight and the probabilities of changing classes over time. RESULTS: A three-class solution, good balance skills (GBS) group, intermediate in balance skills (IBS) group, and poor balance skills (PBS) group, best fit the data for both childhood and adolescence. Most (49.97%, n = 6.713) had GBS in childhood and GBS in adolescence; the probability of "staying" as GBS was 86%. Birthweight was associated with higher likelihood of remaining GBS at adolescence (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.40-2.37). Those who were classified as IBS and PBS in childhood had 75.2% and 62.7% probability of becoming GBS in adolescence, respectively. A small percentage of children stayed in the PBS group (1.92%, n = 258), with probability of remaining as such being 15.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The higher the birthweight, the better the outcomes in those with GBS and IBS in the childhood. However, although small proportion of children stayed at the lowest level of balance skills in adolescence, some clinical attention should be given to those classified at this level in childhood.

A new motor screening assessment for children at risk for motor disorders: construct validity.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a motor screening assessment and provide preliminary evidence of its psychometric properties. METHODS: A sample of 365 elementary school students was assessed, with structural equation modeling applied to obtain evidence of the adequacy of the factor structure of the motor screening assessment. As well, differential item functioning was used to evaluate whether various identifiable subgroups of children (i.e., sex and grade) perform particular tasks differently. RESULTS: Overall, girls obtained higher scores than boys while, for both sexes, the assessment scores increased with age. Furthermore, differential item function analysis revealed that the precision of the test was highest for those with moderate to low motor performance, suggesting that this tool would be appropriate for identifying individuals with movement difficulties. CONCLUSION: Although further tests of its psychometric properties are required, the motor screening assessment appears to be a reliable, valid, and quickly-administered tool for screening children's movements.

Assessing Risk of Bias in Randomized Controlled Trials for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

AIM: To determine construct validity and reliability indicators of the Cochrane risk of bias (RoB) tool in the context of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate a unidimensional model consisting of 9 RoB categorical indicators evaluated across 94 RCTs addressing interventions for ASD. RESULTS: Only five of the nine original RoB items returned good fit indices and so were retained in the analysis. Only one of this five had very high factor loadings. The remaining four indicators had more measurement error than common variance with the RoB latent factor. Together, the five indicators showed poor reliability (ω = 0.687; 95% CI: 0.613-0.761). CONCLUSION: Although the Cochrane model of RoB for ASD exhibited good fit indices, the majorities of the items have more residual variance than common variance and, therefore, did not adequately capture the RoB in ASD intervention trials.

Construct validity of the Motor Development Scale (MDS)

Abstract Objective Construct validity for the Motor Development Scale (MDS) has not been established. The aim of this study was to examine whether the unidimensional model of MDS would be appropriate for children aged 4 to 6 years-old and provide construct validity for the items concerning this age group in Brazil. Methods A total of 938 children participated in the study (214 4-year-olds, 643 5-year-olds, and 81 6-year-olds). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate construct validity of the MDS using a unidimensional model. Results The CFA for the unidimensional model showed excellent adequacy indices for age 4: χ2(2) = 0.581, p = 0.748, comparative fit index (CFI) = 1.000, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 1.090, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.000 (90% confidence interval [90%CI] = 0.000 to 0.093, close fit [Cfit] = 0.841); age 5: χ2(2) = 2.669, p = 0.263, CFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.980, RMSEA = 0.023 (90%CI = 0.000 to 0.085, Cfit = 0.682), weighted root mean square residual (WRMR) = 0.407; and age 6: χ2(9) = 8.275, p = 0.506, CFI = 1.000, TLI = 1.010, RMSEA = 0.000 (90%CI = 0.000 to 0.118, Cfit = 0.653), WRMR = 0.495. Reliability was good: ω = 0.87 (95%CI = 0.81 to 0.92). Conclusion The proposed unidimensional solution for the MDS provides a concise, parsimonious and reliable way to assess motor development in children aged 4 to 6 years.

Motor skills assessments: support for a general motor factor for the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 / Avaliação de habilidades motoras: suporte a um fator motor geral para o Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 e o Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2

Abstract Objective To evaluate the construct validity and model-based reliability of general and specific contributions of the subscales of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2) when evaluating motor skills across a range of psychiatric disorders. Methods Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and bifactor analysis were conducted on BOT-2 data from 187 elementary school students (grades 1 to 6) (mean age: 113 ± 20 months; boys: n = 117, 62.56%) and on MABC-2 data from 127 elementary school students (grade 1) (mean age: 76 ± 2 months; boys: n = 58, 45.67%). Results The results of the CFA fit the data for multidimensionality for the BOT-2 and presented poor fit indices for the MABC-2. For both tests, the bifactor model showed that the reliability of the subscales was poor. Conclusions The BOT-2 exhibited factorial validity with a multidimensional structure among the current samples, but the MABC-2 showed poor fit indices, insufficient to confirm its multidimensional structure. For both tests, most of the reliable variance came from a general motor factor (M-factor), therefore the scoring and reporting of subscale scores were not justified for both tests.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a validade de construto e a confiabilidade das subescalas do Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) e do Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2) com base em modelos das contribuições gerais e específicas ao avaliar habilidades motoras em transtornos psiquiátricos. Métodos Foram realizadas análise fatorial confirmatória (AFC) e análise bifatorial em dados de 187 escolares do primeiro ao sexto ano do ensino fundamental (idade média: 113 ± 20 meses; meninos: n = 117, 62,56%) que foram avaliados com o BOT-2, e em dados de 127 escolares do primeiro ano do ensino fundamental (idade média: 76 ± 2 meses; meninos: n = 58, 45,67%) avaliados com o MABC-2. Resultados Os resultados da AFC apresentaram índices de ajuste satisfatórios de multidimensionalidade para o BOT-2 e apresentaram índices de ajuste insatisfatórios para o MABC-2. Para ambos os testes, o modelo bifatorial mostrou que a confiabilidade das subescalas era ruim. Conclusão O BOT-2 apresentou validade fatorial com uma estrutura multidimensional entre as amostras utilizadas, mas o MABC-2 apresentou índices de ajuste insatisfatórios, insuficientes para confirmar sua estrutura multidimensional. Para ambos os testes, a maior parte da variância confiável veio de um fator motor geral (fator-M), portanto, a pontuação e o relato dos escores das subescalas não se justificaram para ambos os testes.

Visual-motor perception in students with attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to characterize and to compare the visual-motor perception of students with Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with students with good academic performance. METHODS: Forty students from 2nd to 5th grades of an elementary public school, male gender (100%), aged between 7 and 10 years and 8 months old participated, divided into: GI (20 students with ADHD) and GII (20 students with good academic performance), paired according to age, schooling and gender with GI. The students were submitted to Developmental Test of Visual Perception (DTVP-2). RESULTS: The students of GI presented low performance in spatial position and visual closure (reduced motor) and inferior age equivalent in reduced motor perception, when compared to GII. CONCLUSION: The difficulties in visual-motor perception presented by students of GI cannot be attributed to a primary deficit, but to a secondary phenomenon of inattention that interferes directly in their visual-motor performance.

A new motor screening assessment for children at risk for motor disorders: construct validity / Uma nova avaliação de triagem motora para escolares de risco para transtorno motor: validade de constructo

ABSTRACT Objective: To develop a motor screening assessment and provide preliminary evidence of its psychometric properties. Methods: A sample of 365 elementary school students was assessed, with structural equation modeling applied to obtain evidence of the adequacy of the factor structure of the motor screening assessment. As well, differential item functioning was used to evaluate whether various identifiable subgroups of children (i.e., sex and grade) perform particular tasks differently. Results: Overall, girls obtained higher scores than boys while, for both sexes, the assessment scores increased with age. Furthermore, differential item function analysis revealed that the precision of the test was highest for those with moderate to low motor performance, suggesting that this tool would be appropriate for identifying individuals with movement difficulties. Conclusion: Although further tests of its psychometric properties are required, the motor screening assessment appears to be a reliable, valid, and quickly-administered tool for screening children's movements.

RESUMO Objetivo: Desenvolver uma avaliação de triagem motora (ATM) e fornecer evidências preliminares de suas propriedades psicométricas. Métodos: 365 alunos do ensino fundamental foram avaliados. Foi utilizado modelagem de equações estruturais para evidenciar a adequação da estrutura fatorial da ATM. A função diferencial do item foi utilizada para avaliar tarefas podem funcionar de forma diferente para subgrupos (ou seja, sexo e escolaridade). Resultados: Em geral, as meninas obtiveram pontuações mais altas do que os meninos e, em ambos os sexos, os escores da avaliação aumentaram com a idade. A análise da função diferencial do item revelou que a precisão do teste foi maior para aqueles com desempenho motor baixo a moderado, sugerindo que essa ferramenta seria apropriada para identificar aqueles com dificuldades motoras. Conclusão: Embora sejam necessários novos testes de suas propriedades psicométricas, a ATM parece ser uma ferramenta confiável, válida e rápida de administrar como rastreio motor para crianças.

Fine motor, sensory and perceptive function of students with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity.

PURPOSE: To characterize and compare the fine motor, sensory and perceptive functions of students with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD) and students with good academic performance, without behavior alteration. METHODS: Participants were 22 male students from Elementary School distributed into: GI - 11 children with ADHD; and GII - 11 students with good academic performance and no behavior alteration. Students were submitted to the Protocol for Evaluation of Fine Motor, Sensory and Perceptual Function, and to the Dysgraphia Scale. RESULTS: There were differences between GI and GII in tasks concerning fine motor function, sensory function, and perceptual function, with lower performance from GI. All students in GI presented dysgraphia. CONCLUSION: Students with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity present lower performance regarding fine motor, sensory and perception functions in relation to students with good academic performance. These difficulties can cause significant impact on academic performance, impairing the development of written language and causing dysgraphia in these students.

Percepção viso-motora de escolares com Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade / Visual-motor perception in students with Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar e comparar as habilidades de percepção viso-motoras de escolares com Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade (TDAH) com escolares com bom desempenho acadêmico. MÉTODOS: Participaram deste estudo 40 escolares na faixa etária de 7 anos a 10 anos e 8 meses, do 2º ao 5º ano do Ensino Fundamental de escolas públicas, divididos em GI (20 escolares com diagnóstico interdisciplinar de TDAH) do gênero masculino (100%) e GII (20 escolares com bom desempenho escolar), pareados com o GI em idade, escolaridade e gênero. Os escolares foram submetidos ao Teste Evolutivo de Percepção Visual (DTVP-2). RESULTADOS: Os escolares de GI apresentaram desempenho inferior na função de posição no espaço e closura visual (motricidade reduzida) e equivalente de idade inferior para percepção de motricidade reduzida em relação ao GII. CONCLUSÃO: As dificuldades em percepção viso-motora apresentadas pelos escolares de GI podem ser atribuídas não a um déficit primário, mas a um fenômeno secundário à desatenção que interfere de forma direta em seu desempenho de percepção viso-motora.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to characterize and to compare the visual-motor perception of students with Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with students with good academic performance. METHODS: Forty students from 2nd to 5th grades of an elementary public school, male gender (100%), aged between 7 and 10 years and 8 months old participated, divided into: GI (20 students with ADHD) and GII (20 students with good academic performance), paired according to age, schooling and gender with GI. The students were submitted to Developmental Test of Visual Perception (DTVP-2). RESULTS: The students of GI presented low performance in spatial position and visual closure (reduced motor) and inferior age equivalent in reduced motor perception, when compared to GII. CONCLUSION: The difficulties in visual-motor perception presented by students of GI cannot be attributed to a primary deficit, but to a secondary phenomenon of inattention that interferes directly in their visual-motor performance.

Performance of children with learning difficulties in fine motor function and handwriting

OBJETIVOS: este estudo teve por objetivos caracterizar e comparar o desempenho da função motora fina, sensorial e perceptiva e a qualidade da escrita entre escolares com dificuldades de aprendizagem e escolares com bom desempenho acadêmico. MÉDODOS: participaram desse estudo 192 crianças na faixa etária de 7 a 11 anos de idade, de ambos os gêneros, da 1ª à 4ª série de escolas públicas municipais. Os escolares foram distribuídos em: GI, GII, GIII e GIV, compostos de 96 escolares com dificuldade de aprendizagem, e GV, GVI, GVII e GVIII, compostos de 96 escolares com bom desempenho acadêmico. Os escolares foram submetidos à avaliação da função motora fina, sensorial e perceptiva e avaliação da escrita sob ditado. RESULTADOS: os resultados revelaram que os que os escolares com dificuldades de aprendizagem da 1ª à 3ª série obtiveram desempenho inferior em provas de função motora fina, sensorial e perceptiva, quando comparados com escolares sem dificuldades de aprendizagem na mesma série escolar; os escolares da 4ª série de ambos os grupos não apresentaram alterações em função motora fina, sensorial e perceptiva; e somente os escolares do GII apresentaram disgrafia. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados apresentados neste estudo sugerem que aspectos qualitativos das habilidades motoras finas, sensoriais e perceptivas refletem a integridade e a maturidade do sistema nervoso central e podem, provavelmente, exercer um importante papel no diagnóstico precoce de desordens do desenvolvimento e consequentemente prevenir desordens acadêmicas como o desempenho na escrita, por exemplo.

AIMS: This study aimed to compare and characterize the fine, sensory and perceptive function performance and handwriting quality between students with learning difficulties and students with good academic performance. METHODS: This study comprised 192 students from 2nd to 4th grades, both genders, whose ages ranged from 7 to 11 years old. The students were distributed into: GI, GII, GIII and GIV, comprising 96 students with learning difficulties, and groups GV, GVI, GVII, GVIII comprising 96 students with good academic performance. The students were submitted to evaluation of fine motor, sensorial and perception functions and handwriting evaluation under dictation. RESULTS: The results showed that the students with learning difficulties, from 1st to 3rd grade, had lower performance on tests of fine motor, sensory and perceptive function, when compared to the students with good academic performance in the same grade; the students from 4th grade, both groups, did not show changes on fine motor, sensory and perceptive function; and only the students of GII showed dysgraphia. CONCLUSIONS: the results presented in this study suggest that the qualitative aspects of fine motor, sensory and perceptive skills reflect the integrity and maturity of central nervous system and can probably play an important role in early diagnosis of development disorders and consequently prevent academic disorders such as handwriting performance.

Coordenação motora fina de escolares com dislexia e transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade / Fine motor coordination of students with dyslexia and attention deficit disorder with hiperactivity

OBJETIVOS: descrever e comparar o desempenho da coordenação motora fina em escolares com dislexia e com transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade utilizando parâmetros de desempenho motor e idade cronológica da Escala de Desenvolvimento Motor. MÉTODO: participaram 22 escolaresdo ensino fundamental, de ambos os gêneros, na faixa etária de 6 a 11 anos de idade distribuídos em: GI: 11 escolares com transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade e GII: 11 com dislexia. Como procedimento, provas de motricidade fina da Escala de Desenvolvimento Motor foram aplicadas. RESULTADOS: os resultados revelaram diferença estatisticamente significante entre a idade motora fina e a idade cronológica de GI e GII. Conforme a classificação da Escala do Desenvolvimento Motor, 90 por cento dos escolares de GI e GII apresentaram desenvolvimento motor fino muito inferior ao esperado para a idade e 10 por cento dos escolares com dislexia apresentam desenvolvimento normal baixo ao esperado para a idade e 10 por cento dos escolares com transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade apresentaram desenvolvimento inferior ao esperado para a idade. CONCLUSÃO: concluímos que tanto os escolares com dislexia como os com TDAH deste estudo apresentam atrasos na coordenação motora fina, demonstrando que os participantes desta pesquisa apresentam dificuldades em atividades que exijam destreza, quadro característico do transtorno do desenvolvimento da coordenação. Estudos complementares estão sendo conduzidos pelos autores deste estudo para poder verificar e comprovar se o perfil motor fino dos escolares encontrados neste estudo se assemelham ou se diferem de acordo com o quadro apresentado pelos mesmos.

PURPOSE: to describe and compare the fine motor coordination performance of students with dyslexia and with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. METHOD: the study included 22 elementary school students of both genders, aged from 6 to 11-year old, divided into: GI: 11 students with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and GII: 11 students with dyslexia. For the procedure, tests of fine motor skills from the Motor Development Scale were applied. RESULTS: the results showed a statistically significant difference between the fine motor age and chronological age of the students at GI and GII. According to the classification of the Motor Development Scale, 90 percent of students from GI and GII demonstrated fine motor development much lower than expected for their age, 10 percent of the students with dyslexia demonstrated low normal development as for the expected value according to age and 10 percent of students with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder demonstrated inferior development than what is expect for their age. CONCLUSION: we concluded that both students with dyslexia and with ADHD in this study show a delay in fine motor coordination, demonstrating that the participants of this research have difficulties in tasks that require dexterity, characteristic condition of the coordination development disorder. Additional studies are being conducted by the authors of this study in order to ascertain and to check if the fine motor profiles of students in this study is similar or differ according to their condition.

Função motora fina, sensorial e perceptiva de escolares com transtorno do déficit de atenção com hiperatividade / Fine motor, sensory and perceptive function of students with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar e comparar as funções motoras fina, sensorial e perceptiva de escolares com Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade (TDAH) e escolares com bom desempenho escolar sem alterações de comportamento. MÉTODOS: Participaram 22 escolares do ensino fundamental, de gênero masculino, distribuídos em: GI - 11 escolares com Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade; e GII - 11 escolares com bom desempenho acadêmico e sem alterações de comportamento. Os escolares foram submetidos à aplicação do Protocolo de Avaliação da Função Motora Fina, Sensorial e Perceptiva e da Escala de Disgrafia. RESULTADOS: Houve diferença nas tarefas de função motora fina, função sensorial e função perceptiva entre o GI e o GII, com desempenho inferior do GI. Todos os escolares de GI apresentaram disgrafia. CONCLUSÃO: Escolares com Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade apresentam desempenho inferior aos escolares com bom desempenho acadêmico em relação às funções motoras fina, sensorial e perceptiva. Tais dificuldades podem causar impacto significativo sobre o desempenho acadêmico, uma vez que comprometem o desenvolvimento da linguagem escrita, ocasionando disgrafia nesses escolares.

PURPOSE: To characterize and compare the fine motor, sensory and perceptive functions of students with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD) and students with good academic performance, without behavior alteration. METHODS: Participants were 22 male students from Elementary School distributed into: GI - 11 children with ADHD; and GII - 11 students with good academic performance and no behavior alteration. Students were submitted to the Protocol for Evaluation of Fine Motor, Sensory and Perceptual Function, and to the Dysgraphia Scale. RESULTS: There were differences between GI and GII in tasks concerning fine motor function, sensory function, and perceptual function, with lower performance from GI. All students in GI presented dysgraphia. CONCLUSION: Students with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity present lower performance regarding fine motor, sensory and perception functions in relation to students with good academic performance. These difficulties can cause significant impact on academic performance, impairing the development of written language and causing dysgraphia in these students.