A heterogeneous sample of 137 school-aged children with learning disabilities (IQ greater than 80) attending special needs schools was examined on the "Movement Assessment Battery for Children" (MABC). The results show that compared to the available norm scores, 52.6% of the children tested performed below the 15th percentile on manual…

Although physical therapy (PT) is effective in improving motor function in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), insufficient data are available on the impact of this intervention in children with combined attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and DCD. This prospective study aimed to establish the prevalence of DCD…

The motor proficiency of 55 learning disabled and 55 nondisabled students (mean age 9 years) was compared on a comprehensive battery of motor-skills tests. (Author/CL)

The article suggests activities to help learning disabled children develop awareness of the differences between right and left. Techniques for combining movement, language, and sensory skills as well as for using musical, visual, and tactile stimuli are described. (CL)

Part Two of the article focuses on the development of manual motor skills in learning disabled children. After a discussion of test methods, the author considers aspects of a medical examination, including a general exam, a neurological exam, an electroencephalogram, and a diagnostic test of hand/motor skill development. (For Part One, see EC 123…

A comparison was made of the performance of 30 learning-disabled students on the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test and the Beery Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration. A significant correlation of -.72 was obtained. No significant difference was found in estimations of age equivalents. (Author)

Described are perceptual motor activities in the areas of coordination, agility, strength, balance, and endurance for use with learning disabled children. Provided are a rationale for movement education and definitions of 10 terms such as laterality and endurance. A sequence of activities is provided for the following skills: ball bouncing, rope…

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) constitute approximately six percent of the population, or about two children out of a class of 35. Often referred to as "clumsy" or physically awkward, children with DCD are generally academically able, but have movement difficulties that affect their progress in academics and in activities…

Describes the five basic stages of motor development as activities in a perceptual motor program for children of normal intelligence who have learning problems. The program emphasizes the relation between sound motor development and academic achievement. (Author)

The nature of psychomotor skills and their relationship to academic achievement and positive self concept are discussed. Illustrations of program implementation and instructor preparation in several schools are presented. (RW)

Three types of outcomes are proposed as guidelines for understanding movement in relation to learning problem theories and programs for perceptually handicapped children. (Author/PHR)