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A case study of children participating in a perceptual-motor program Lendvoy, Harry F.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide a description of the physical performance of a group of slow learning children who participated in a perceptual-motor program and to observe the effects of special training in motor skills on the visual perception and motor capacity of each child. Eight subjects, ranging in age from six to nine years, were selected to participate in the study. Each subject was referred to the program because of a diagnosis of retarded perceptual-motor development. The subjects were given pre-training standardized tests in General Motor Capacity and Visual Perception. They then received approximately fifty minutes of daily instruction in motor skills for a total of sixty-five days. At the conclusion of the special training period, the subjects were once again tested in general motor capacity and visual perception. The scores on the initial and final tests in motor capacity and perceptual ability were compared and the differences were recorded. A case study was conducted on each subject in order to obtain as much information as possible on each individual participating in the program. Information was obtained from medical and school records, psychologist and teacher reports, and the detailed observations of the investigator. The results indicated that difficulties in differentiation, balance and coordination appeared to be characteristic of the child having inadequate perceptual-motor development. A comparison of pre- and post-training test results showed that an improvement in motor capacity and visual perception occurred in all the subjects. Marked improvements were also observed in the children's behavior and attitude. From the findings of this study it appears that a special motor training program is a major contributor to the overall rehabilitation of the perceptually-motor handicapped child.

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