Motor Free Visual Perception Skill among Children with Special Education Needs

Abstract

Background and Aim Visual perception impairment can affect on performance skill in activity of daily living, writing, reading, mathematics, play, leisure and social activities of children. Occupational therapist can support the children to improve their writing and reading skill. Methods Six- to twelve-year-old 121 children (95male, 26 female) with special education needs from special education classes in 4 primary schools were included in this study. Motor Free Visual Perceptual Test – 3rded. (MVPT-3) was administered without timing and assessed individually. Administration took approximately 20 to 30 minutes. The raw scores were calculated. Standard scores were obtained from conversion table from raw score to standard score. Results Motor Free Visual Perceptual Test scores of the children were very low (49.6%, N=60), low (8.3%, N=10), low average (11.6%, N=14), average (19%, N= 23), high average (9.9%, N=12), superior (1.7%, N=2). Median score for 121 children was 70.0 and interquartile range was 37. Among 121 children, 69.4% (N = 84) were with below normal MVPT score and 30.6% (N=37) were with normal MVPT score. The children with below normal MVPT scores (M= 62.75, SD= 11.03) compared to the children with normal MVPT scores (M= 103.70, SD= 10.47) demonstrated significantly lower MVPT scores (p<0.001). Conclusion Motor Free Visual Perceptual Test should be compulsory to assess among the children with special education needs. School based occupation therapy service is mandatory for all the schools for children with special education needs.