Persistent Deficits in Motor Skill of Children with Dyslexia

Abstract

Abstract Three groups of children with dyslexia (mean ages 8, 13, and 17 years) and three groups of normally achieving children matched for age and IQ with the dyslexic groups undertook three tests of motor skill. For peg placing and articulation rate, the children with dyslexia were significantly slower than their chronological age controls, and equivalent to their reading age controls. For bead threading, they were significantly slower than even their reading age controls. The results suggest that children with dyslexia have persistent, and unexpectedly severe, problems in motor skill.