Handwriting and Sensory Processing
Handwriting is one of the most complex skills we will ever learn. It involves drawing upon multiple sensory pathways simultaneously, including our vestibular system (balance), our proprioceptive system (awareness of our body position in space), tactile sense (touch and feel) and visual-perception, before we even begin to think about what we want to say and how to spell it. All physical movements, including handwriting, require motor planning (praxis). Difficulties with this can be seen in handwriting skills as well as sports and even eating.
Interpreting sensory information is complex and we can also be affected by hyper stimulation (too much) as well as hypo stimulation (too little): both of which can lead to adaptive strategies to reduce or increase the sensory stimulation we are experiencing.
This section relates to Chapter 6
NCIM Action Point 6.1:
Handwriting Development
Handwriting Norm speeds:
Standardised handwriting speeds (normed in 1992 - not sufficient for formal Access Arrangements testing but will give you a rough guide)
NCIM Handwriting Assessment Tool:
Sign up for the monthly NCIM newsletter and download the free Handwriting & Praxis Checklist in the Get Started toolkit.
Handwriting Development Guide:
Early Years + Developmental Stages of Handwriting - See Table 1
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust
Fine Motor Skills in School Checklist
NCIM Action Point 6.2:
Motor Planning (Praxis)
NCIM Action Point 6.3:
Sensory Integration (Processing)
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust
Sensory Checklist
Sensory Smarts Checklist
Checklist for Parents-Carers to use at home and share with school
Listen to a NCIM podcast about assessing for sensory processing
Hannah and Conor Mc Donagh, Occupational Therapist, discuss assessing and diagnosing
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