Visual-motor Development Research Articles

Relationship between maternal biological features, environmental factors, and newborn neuromotor development associated with visual fixation abilities

Newborn visual fixation abilities predict future cognitive, perceptive, and motor skills. However, little is known about the factors associated with the newborn visual fixation, which is an indicator of neurocognitive abilities. We analyzed maternal biological and environmental characteristics associated with fine motor skills (visual tracking) in 1 month old infants. Fifty-one infants were tested on visual tracking tasks (Infant Visuomotor Behavior Assessment Scale/ Guide for the Assessment of Visual Ability in Infants) and classified according to visual conducts scores. Differences between groups were compared considering motor development (Alberta Infant Motor Scale) maternal mental health (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Scale); home environment (Affordances in the Home Environment for Development Scale); maternal care (Coding Interactive Behavior); breastmilk composition (total fatty acids, proteins, and cortisol); and maternal metabolic profile (serum hormones and interleukins). Mothers of infants with lower visual fixation scores had higher levels of protein in breastmilk at 3 months. Mothers of infants with better visual conduct scores had higher serum levels of T4 (at 1 month) and prolactin (at 3 months). There were no associations between visual ability and motor development, home environment, or maternal care. Early newborn neuromotor development, especially visual and fine motor skills, is associated with maternal biological characteristics (metabolic factors and breastmilk composition), highlighting the importance of early detection of maternal metabolic changes for the healthy neurodevelopment of newborns.

Long-term outcomes of visual motor integration and motor development children with retinopathy of prematurity.

Premature infants have a risk of neurodevelopmental deficits. Little is known, however, about how retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) affects visual motor integration (VMI), which is necessary for both fine motor skills and further school abilities. Due to the systemic escape of bevacizumab in the treatment of ROP, concerns regarding the long-term neurodevelopmental effect of the drug have arisen. The aim is to evaluate VMI and motor development long-term outcomes after intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection and laser treatment for ROP. Two groups of premature children were included: Bevacizumab group - 16 premature children who received IVB treatment and laser group - 23 premature children who underwent laser photocoagulation treatment in this single center cross-sectional study. At 2-6 years of age, VMI (Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test), motor development (Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2), visual acuity, and refractive status were assessed. The incidence of abnormal visual function was significantly higher in bevacizumab group than in laser group (p = 0.022). The incidence of abnormal VMI skill was significantly higher in bevacizumab group than in laser group (p = 0.024). Incidences of abnormal gross, fine, and total motor skills were significantly higher in bevacizumab group compared to laser group (p < 0.05). Premature children who received bevacizumab for ROP demonstrated significantly lower VMI and motor development features than those with laser treatment at preschool age. Although our results suggest the relevance of bevacizumab injection in impaired VMI and motor development outcomes, general level of sickness rather than treatment might be the cause of delayed motor development.

A study on incidence of vestibular deficits in children with sensory neural hearing loss by using cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (cVEMP)

This study was conducted from an Audiology &amp; rehabilitation clinic in Kerala- India from January 2022 to August 2022.In both evolutionary and embryonic perspective, the organs responsible for hearing and balance (auditory &amp; vestibular system) have a common origin and developmental pattern. Sensory neural hearing loss (SNHL) is a common congenital sensory deficit occurring in large number of children and it is extensively investigated and has well defined management protocols such as hearing aids or cochlear implants and speech-language rehabilitation. But in comparison with the case of SNHL, very little effort has been done to investigate and treat the vestibular deficits which can co-occur along with SNHL. This study is an attempt to throw some light about the incidence of vestibular deficits in hearing impaired children. It was found that abnormal/absent VEMP responses were found in 57% of children with SNHL. VEMP responses were completely absent in 65% of ears with severe to profound hearing loss. Vestibular dysfunction was also present in 19% of children with moderate to moderately severe hearing loss. Incidence of vestibular deficits increases in higher degree of hearing loss such as severe to profound category. Motor delay was also reported in 10 out of 26 participants in this study which could be attributed to lack of visual motor development in children with vestibular deficits. However a large number of vestibular deficits in children with SNHL still remain under reported and uninvestigated which points to the need for conducting vestibular assessment in children diagnosed with SNHL.

Visual system and motor development in children: a systematic review.

The aim of this study was to review the available scientific literature on the possible relationship between the visual system and motor development in children. This study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) statement recommendations. The review protocol is available in PROSPERO (CRD42021245341). Four different databases, namely Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science, were assessed from April 2005 to February 2021. To determine the quality of the articles, we used the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Quality Appraisal Scale, and a protocol was followed to define the levels of evidence on the basis of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence. The search strategy included terms describing motor development in children and adolescents with visual disorders. Among the identified studies, 23 were included in the study. All selected articles examined the relationship between the visual system and development in children. The quality of most of the studies was moderate-high, and they were between evidence levels 2 and 4. Our systematic review revealed that all included studies established a relationship between the visual system and development in children. However, the methods for measuring the visual system and motor skills lacked uniformity.

Home-based early stimulation program targeting visual and motor functions for preterm infants with delayed tracking: Feasibility of a Randomized Clinical Trial

AimsTo verify the feasibility of a home-based early stimulation program targeting visual and motor functions in preterm infants with delayed visual tracking. MethodWe applied a randomized controlled trial. We included thirty low-risk preterm infants, from both genders, with delayed visual tracking, gestational between 28–37 weeks, and age at entrance between 1-2 months of corrected age, and absence of visual impairments. Infants were divided into two groups as follows: a) standard care group (SC) that received general orientation about sensory and motor development (16 infants); b) experimental group, that received a four-week home-based early stimulation program targeting visual and motor functions (ESPVM) applied by the caregivers (14 infants). The feasibility outcomes were retention and loss rates, adherence, adverse events, and stress signals. We obtained preliminary data by comparing visual tracking, motor development, and sensory behavior between groups at the end of the intervention. ResultsRetention rate was high, 90 % of the caregivers provided ESPVM at least 22 days, and 70 % provided SC at least 17 days. No adverse events were reported. At the end of intervention, the ESPVM group presented higher frequencies of complete visual tracking for cards 7 (ESPVM = 57.3 %, SC = 6.3 %, p = 0.006) and 8 (ESPVM = 64.3 %, SC = 12.2 %, p = 0.013), and lower scores for total sensory profile (ESPVM: median = 58, range = 46–69; SC: median = 71, range = 54–90; p = 0.016). The groups were similar for motor development. ConclusionsThe protocol was feasible, and the results encourage a larger randomized controlled trial.

Rare homozygous nonsense variant in AIMP1 causing Early Onset Epileptic Encephalopathy with Burst Suppression (EOEE-BS)

Pathogenic variants in AIMP1 gene are rare causes of neurologic disorders. Homozygous frameshift and nonsense variants in AIMP1 have been described in severe neurodegenerative disease. This is the third report of a homozygous nonsense variant in AIMP1 [c.115 C > T (p.Gln39*)] in a girl with severe neonatal onset epileptic encephalopathy. Like the two other cases reported, our patient is also of Filipino descent. Clinical features include microcephaly, poor visual motor development, shallow breathing, severe hypertonia in extremities, severe global developmental delay, poor gag and suck reflex, failure to thrive in the neonatal period, and early onset intractable seizures. Brain MRI showed hypoplasia of corpus callosum as well as cerebellar vermis, global volume loss and diminished myelination for her age. Electroencephalogram at four months of age showed background consisting of synchronous and asynchronous intervals of burst suppression with intermittent multifocal spikes predominantly in the bi-temporal region, suggestive of Early Onset Epileptic Encephalopathy with Burst Suppression (EOEE-BS) which has not been previously associated with the c.115 C > T variant in AIMP1. Of note, she presented to us in super refractory status epilepticus which was eventually controlled after administration of ketogenic diet and Epidiolex (cannabidiol). This report expands the genetic landscape of EOEE-BS. This is the first case of this specific variant in which Epidiolex was administered, which along with Ketogenic diet aided in controlling patient's super refractory status epilepticus.

Vision Development Differences between Slow and Fast Motor Development in Typical Developing Toddlers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Many studies have established a relationship between visual function and motor development in toddlers. This is the first report to study two-year-olds via an assessment of their visual and motor skills. The purpose of this study is to describe the possible changes that can occur between visual and motor systems in typical developing toddlers. A total of 116 toddlers were included in this observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. Their mean age was 29.57 ± 3.45 months. Motor development variables studied were dominant hand/foot; stationary, locomotion, object manipulation, grasping, visual motor integration percentiles; gross motor, fine motor, and total motor percentiles; and gross motor, fine motor, and total motor quotients. Visual development variables were assessed including visual acuity, refractive error, ocular alignment, motor fusion and suppression, ocular motility, and stereopsis. Our findings demonstrated that typical developing toddlers with slow gross motor development had higher exophoria and further near point of convergence values compared to toddlers with fast gross motor development (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in visual acuity and stereopsis between slow and fast gross motor development toddlers.

Draw-a-person test as a tool for intelligence screening in primary school children

Objective The aim was to conduct a study for screening intelligence of primary school children using draw-a-person (DAP) test in Meit Ghamr District, Al-Dakahlia Governorate. Background The significance of children's drawings has been thought to provide indications of visual motor development, levels of cognitive functioning, and intellectual maturity. One of the earliest drawing tests was the DAP test devised by Goodenough to assess children's creativity, mental age, and visual motor intellectual maturity by coding features of their drawing of a man. Participants and methods This study was carried out in 1000 apparently healthy primary school children aged from 6 to 12 years old in Meit Ghamr District, Al-Dakahlia Governorate. All students were subjected to an adequate assessment of history, full clinical examination, socioeconomic level, school achievement, and also DAP test. Results The study showed that children with superior intelligence, with high average, with average, with low average, and with below average were 1.5, 9.9, 64.6, 21.1, and 2.9%, respectively. Moreover, positive correlations were found between intelligence quotient (IQ) levels and socioeconomic standards, school achievement, and residence. There was no correlation between IQ levels and children's sex. Conclusion There were a positive correlation between IQ levels obtained by DAP test and socioeconomic standards, residence, and school achievement. Moreover, no correlation was found between IQ levels and sex.

Fine and Visual Motor Development Emerging Through Infant and Maternal Reciprocity

Abstract Date Presented 4/19/2018 A retrospective study exploring the bidirectionality of reciprocity in infants and mothers revealed changes occurring over 6 months in several domains. This retrospective analysis creates a novel process of assessing visual and fine motor development through the lens of reciprocity. Primary Author and Speaker: Bryan Gee Additional Authors and Speakers: Jessica Engle, Chelsee Parker, Matt Stanger, Kelly Thompson Contributing Authors: Nancy Devine, Nicki Aubuchon-Endsley, Michele Brumley, Heather Ramsdell-Hudock

Plasma Betaine Is Positively Associated with Developmental Outcomes in Healthy Toddlers at Age 2 Years Who Are Not Meeting the Recommended Adequate Intake for Dietary Choline

Choline is an important nutrient during development. However, there are limited data on dietary choline intake and status in toddlers and the relation to neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study assessed dietary choline intake and status in healthy toddlers at ages 1 and 2 y and determined the relation to neurodevelopmental outcomes. This is a secondary analysis of data from healthy toddlers enrolled in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation between ages 1 and 2 y. Dietary intakes of betaine and choline were estimated by 3-d food records; plasma free choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Developmental outcomes were assessed at age 2 y with the use of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (Bayley-III), Cognitive and Language composites, and the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery-VMI). The mean±SD daily intake for total choline at age 1 y was 174±56.2 mg/d and increased (P<0.001) to 205±67.5 mg/d at age 2 y. At ages 1 and 2 y, 71.8% and 55.8%, respectively, of toddlers did not meet the recommended 200-mg/d Adequate Intake (AI) for dietary choline. At age 1 y, mean±SD plasma free choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine concentrations were 10.4±3.3, 41.1±15.4, and 4.1±1.9 µmol/L, respectively. Plasma free choline (8.5±2.3 µmol/L) and dimethylglycine (3.2±1.3 µmol/L) concentrations were lower (P<0.001) at age 2 y. Plasma betaine concentrations were positively associated with the Beery-VMI (β=0.270; 95% CI: 0.026, 0.513; P=0.03) at age 2 y. These findings suggest that most toddlers are not meeting the recommended AI for dietary choline and that higher plasma betaine concentrations are associated with better visual-motor development at age 2 y. Further work is required to investigate choline metabolism and its role in neurodevelopment in toddlers. The trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01263912.

Perceptual-Motor Maturity in Adolescence and the Tanner Stages: A Study with Bender-Gradual Scoring System.

Visual-motor skill forms an important psycho diagnostic component and is associated with psycho-neurological aspects. The Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test, widely used for the evaluation of this area, is meant for children up to 11 years. In adolescence, the changes associated with puberty generate nonlinear anthropometric development resulting in mild and temporary incoordination. This study investigated the relation between visual-motor development measured by the Bender test and pubertal changes according to the Tanner scale. In all 134 adolescents of both sexes, aged from 10 to 15, who kept routine medical appointments, participated. We used the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test, Raven's Progressive Matrices Test, and medical chart data. The techniques were applied individually. Pubertal changes were associated with the Bender test results showing higher scores at the G3 stage, the period corresponding to a growth spurt, compared to the G5 stage (p = .007, ES = .187), the post-growth spurt period in boys. Age and gender did not influence the Bender test scores. According to the Raven test, the g intelligence factor, interfered significantly in the visual-motor performance (r = -57%, p < .001). Schooling, repetition of a school year, and developmental problems (p = .002, ES = .156; p = .002, ES = .623; p < .001, ES = .880, respectively) obtained similar results. The Bender Test was sensitive to schooling and maturational problems during adolescence. There was an association between visual-motor development and sexual maturity in male adolescents. Our results indicate the usefulness of the Bender Test at older ages than those used in the test standardization.

Обучение каллиграфически правильному письму как педагогическая проблема

The article considers the problem of teaching first-grade pupil calligraphic correct letter as a basis of handwriting, which is a stable personality characteristic in the future is difficult to correcting. As the process of writing is extremely complex and covers various areas of mental activity, the teacher is recommended to take into account the hygiene, physiological and educational components that contribute to conscious mastery of technique first-grade pupil letters formation of skills of visual-motor development of self-control on the basis of geometric eye estimation. The&#x0D; author offers the technique “Line-art formation of calligraphic writing”, characterizes its components, compares with the traditional method of teaching writing.

3D Animated Movies, Touch Screen Applications and Visual Motor Development of Five-Year-Old Children

This study is implemented to investigate the effects of 3D animated movies and interactive applications on visual motor development of five year old children. The research has been performed in pretest-posttest-permanence test, experimental pattern with control group. For four months, every fifteen day experimental groups (24 children) watched eight episodes of 3D animated movies; 12 of them performed the interactive applications with computer while the other 12 performed the same applications with worksheets. 14 children in control group engaged merely their preschool education. Test of Visual Motor Skills-3 was used to collect and evaluate the visual motor skills of children. Since the data of the research was not distributed normally, non-parametric Kruskal Wallis, Friedman and Wilcoxon tests were used to analyze the data. The results of the research show that the visual motor skills of children who engaged the study in both test and control groups, had improved significantly.

Environment as a risk factor in delayed development in premature, low‐birthweight and mild asphyxia children

Premature infants with low birthweight (LBW) and asphyxia are at high risk of delay of language and visual-motor development. Environmental risk factors contributing to the delay include parents' education, family income, number of children in the family, exclusive breast-feeding, and the mother's parenting time. Lack of research in Indonesia on premature, LBW and mild asphyxia children minimizes information to parents on the importance of an optimal environment. The aim of this study was to observe the role of the environment as a risk factor for delay in language and visual-motor development. A cross-sectional study was carried out from June to December 2011 of 12-24-month-old children born premature, with LBW and mild asphyxia at the Hasan Sadikin, Bandung City, and Muhammadiyah Hospitals. Language and visual-motor development were measured by Capute scales. Risk factors were analyzed using chi-squared test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Of the 70 subjects, 49% had language and visual-motor delay. Environmental factors related to the delay were low parental education, low family income, non-exclusive breast-feeding (P < 0.001) and full-time maternal parenting (P < 0.05). On multivariate analysis non-exclusive breast-feeding was associated with a 175-fold risk (prevalence rate [PR], 174.756; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.407-2934.516, P < 0.001), and low family income, a 0.042-fold risk (PR 0.042; 95%CI: 0.005-0.321, P < 0.05). Low family income and non-exclusive breast-feeding are risk factors for delay in language and visual-motor development in 12-24-month-old children born premature, with LBW and mild asphyxia.

معايير الإدراك البصري الحركي للأطفال من عمر 2 - 7 سنوات

نمو الطفل | مقاييس النمو البصري و الحركي | مقياس بيري للإدراك البصري و الحركي | التدخل المبكر للطفل | قياس نمو الطفل | القياس في الطفولة المبكرة | التشخيص النمائي المبكر | الإدراك البصري الحركي عند الطفل | Child Development | Visual Motor Development | Visual–Motor Integration | Beery Scales | Child Assessment | Early Childhood Assessment | Early Childhood Diagnosis

Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test in Adolescents: Relationship between Visual-Motor Development and the Tanner Stages

Visual-motor skill is fundamental to human development and is an important component of psychological evaluations. The goal of the present study was to determine whether there is a correlation between visual-motor development, as measured by the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test (Bender test), and sexual maturity in adolescents, based on the Tanner Stages in Adolescents. 134 adolescents from 10 to 15 years of age participated in the study. The Bender test and the Raven's Progressive Matrices Test were employed. The measures were administered individually and information on sexual maturity and the presence of developmental disorders was collected from medical charts. The results of the Bender test were not affected by gender, age, schooling, or changes stemming from puberty, but were significantly affected by having repeated a school year and by developmental disorders. An association was found with Raven's scores. The Bender test proved sensitive to developmental disorders in adolescence. No association was found between visual-motor development and sexual maturity in adolescents.

POSTNATAL MERCURY AND LEAD EFFECTS UPON VISUAL-MOTOR DEVELOPMENT IN MEXICAN ADOLESCENTS

Background and Aims: Mercury and lead, two established neurodevelopmental toxicants, comprise two of the top three chemicals of concern on the EPA/ATSDR Priority List of Hazardous Substances. Yet, there is limited epidemiological data regarding the relationship, including potential interactions, between mercury and lead exposure upon neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. The objectives of this study were to determine the associations between biomarkers of postnatal mercury and lead exposure and visual-motor development in adolescents aged 13-15 years living in Mexico City. Methods: The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence and the Wide Range Assessment of Visual Motor Activity (WRAVMA) were used to assess children’s cognitive and visual-motor development. Biomarker levels for lead and mercury were collected via ICP-MS and DMA-80. Data were analyzed using generalized linear models adjusting for maternal age, maternal IQ, child’s IQ, sex, and child’s age. Results: In the 135 eligible adolescents, aged 13-15 years, mean levels of total mercury in blood, hair, and urine were:1.43 μg/L, 0.39 μg/g, and 0.60 μg/L; and whole blood lead levels were 3.21 μg/dL, respectively. A one-log increase in concurrent blood lead and mercury levels resulted in a -4.08 (95%CI -7.58, -0.59) and -2.86 (95%CI -5.85, 0.13) decrease in the WRAVMA composite score, respectively. Inclusion of hair mercury levels, instead of blood mercury, resulted in a stronger, more significant adverse relationship with the WRAVMA composite score. While no significant interactions between blood lead and mercury were detected with the WRAVMA, there was a significant positive interaction term (p-value=0.04) between hair mercury and blood lead levels. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates adverse relationship between concurrent biomarkers of methylmercury exposure, blood lead, and adolescence’s visual motor development.

Fixation control and eye alignment in children treated for dense congenital or developmental cataracts

Purpose: Many infants treated for cataracts develop strabismus and nystagmus, but little is known about the critical period for adverse ocular motor outcomes. We evaluate whether onset, duration of visual deprivation, and visual acuity affect ocular motor development.

Relationships Between Fine-Motor, Visual-Motor, and Visual Perception Scores and Handwriting Legibility and Speed

ABSTRACTOccupational therapists assess fine motor, visual motor, visual perception, and visual skill development, but knowledge of the relationships between scores on sensorimotor performance measures and handwriting legibility and speed is limited. Ninety-nine students in grades three to six with learning and/or behavior problems completed the Upper-Limb Speed and Dexterity Subtest of the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, the Beery–Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration—5th Edition, the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills—Revised, the Visual Skills Appraisal, and a handwriting copying task. Correlations between sensorimotor performance scores and handwriting legibility varied from .07 to .38. Correlations between sensorimotor performance scores and handwriting speed varied from .04 to .42. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the variance in handwriting explained by these measures was ≤20% for legibility and ≤26% for speed. On the basis of multivariate analysis of variance only scores for the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration differed between students classified as “skilled” and “unskilled” handwriters. The low magnitude of the correlations and variance explained by the sensorimotor performance measures supports the need for occupational therapists to consider additional factors that may impact handwriting of students with learning and/or behavior problems.

Visual-motor and executive functions in children born preterm: The Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test revisited

Visual-motor development and executive functions were investigated with the Bender Test at age 5½ years in 175 children born preterm and 125 full-term controls, within the longitudinal Stockholm Neonatal Project. Assessment also included WPPSI-R and NEPSY neuropsychological battery for ages 4-7 (Korkman, 1990). Bender protocols were scored according to Brannigan & Decker (2003), Koppitz (1963) and a complementary neuropsychological scoring system (ABC), aimed at executive functions and developed for this study. Bender results by all three scoring systems were strongly related to overall cognitive level (Performance IQ), in both groups. The preterm group displayed inferior visual-motor skills compared to controls also when controlling for IQ. The largest group differences were found on the ABC scoring, which shared unique variance with NEPSY tests of executive function. Multiple regression analyses showed that hyperactive behavior and inattention increased the risk for visual-motor deficits in children born preterm, whereas no added risk was seen among hyperactive term children. Gender differences favoring girls were strongest within the preterm group, presumably reflecting the specific vulnerability of preterm boys. The results indicate that preterm children develop a different neurobehavioral organization from children born at term, and that the Bender test with a neuropsychological scoring is a useful tool in developmental screening around school start.