Occupational Performance Problems of the Primary School Children with Special Needs: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

Introduction

Children’s occupations are school activities, playing, self care and care for others. Their occupational performance could be impaired by physical, developmental, sensory, attention and or learning challenges. In developed countries school-based therapy services are being provided. The evidence for these services requirement in Malaysia is timely to be explored. Objectives This study aimed to identify the occupational performance problems in the study population. Methodology This exploratory cross sectional study included 35 primary school students from integrated special education program. School Function Assessment (SFA), Motor-Free Visual Perceptual Test 3rded (MVPT), Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration 5thed (Beery-VMI), Test of Gross Motor Development – 2 (TGMD-2) and Test Of Hand Writing Skills-Revised (THS-R) were were carried out. Results The study population included children with intellectual disability, autism, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, Down syndrome, and dyslexia. 68.8% of the students scored low to very low in MVPT-3. 68.6% scored below average to very low in Beery-VMI. 57.1% were below average to very poor in TGMD. 74.1% were below average in THS-R and 64.8% were below criterion cut-off scores in SFA. Conclusion The study revealed that the students have problems in occupational performance indicating the need for school-based therapy and other rehabilitation services in the school system. Keywords: children with special needs, occupational performance, school-based therapy