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An Eye-Tracking Method for Directly Assessing Children's Visual-Motor Integration
Journal article   Open access

An Eye-Tracking Method for Directly Assessing Children's Visual-Motor Integration

Nicholas E. Fears, Brooke C. Bailey, Blair Youmans and Jeffrey J. Lockman
Physical therapy, Vol.99(6), pp.797-806
06/01/2019
DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzz027
PMID: 30806663
url
https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzz027View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Background Visual-motor integration is an integral component of many adaptive behaviors and has been linked to school readiness. In young school-age children, visual-motor integration is typically assessed with the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (Beery VMI), a standardized instrument that measures children's ability to copy 2-dimensional forms. The Beery VMI is scored according to children's final written product, but does not directly measure the process of visual-motor integration that underlies children's form copying. Objective We describe a new way of directly assessing visual-motor integration in real time. We demonstrate how head-mounted eye-tracking technology for young children can be used to describe the dynamics of visual-motor integration when children copy forms. Design This study used a cross-sectional design. Methods Typically developing kindergarten children (N=20) were tested as they wore an eye-tracker while performing the Beery VMI. Results Participants' success (b=-0.66; SE=0.08; Cohen f(2)=1.11) and their efficiency in visual (b=0.29; SE=0.02; Cohen f(2)=0.55) and motor (b=0.12; SE=0.01; Cohen f(2)=0.90) processes during form copying decreased as the stimulus complexity increased. Limitations A small convenience sample was used to determine proof of concept. A larger, more representative sample is necessary to provide generalizable results. Conclusions The new methods used here offer the possibility of more fine-grained assessments of eye-hand coordination in typically developing children and children with such clinical conditions as dysgraphia and developmental coordination disorder.
Life Sciences & Biomedicine Orthopedics Rehabilitation Science & Technology

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