TY - JOUR
T1 - Underlying mechanisms of writing difficulties among children with Neurofibromatosis type 1
AU - Gilboa, Yafit
AU - Josman, Naomi
AU - Fattal-Valevski, Aviva
AU - Toledano-Alhadef, Hagit
AU - Rosenblum, Sara
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Writing is a complex activity in which lower-level perceptual-motor processes and higher-level cognitive processes continuously interact. Preliminary evidence suggests that writing difficulties are common to children with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). The aim of this study was to compare the performance of children with and without NF1 in lower (visual perception, motor coordination and visual-motor integration) and higher processes (verbal and performance intelligence, visual spatial organization and visual memory) required for intact writing; and to identify the components that predict the written product's spatial arrangement and content among children with NF1. Thirty children with NF1 (ages 8-16) and 30 typically developing children matched by gender and age were tested, using standardized assessments. Children with NF1 had a significantly inferior performance in comparison to control children, on all tests that measured lower and higher level processes. The cognitive planning skill was found as a predictor of the written product's spatial arrangement. The verbal intelligence predicted the written content level. Results suggest that high level processes underlie the poor quality of writing product in children with NF1. Treatment approaches for children with NF1 must include detailed assessments of cognitive planning and language skills.
AB - Writing is a complex activity in which lower-level perceptual-motor processes and higher-level cognitive processes continuously interact. Preliminary evidence suggests that writing difficulties are common to children with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). The aim of this study was to compare the performance of children with and without NF1 in lower (visual perception, motor coordination and visual-motor integration) and higher processes (verbal and performance intelligence, visual spatial organization and visual memory) required for intact writing; and to identify the components that predict the written product's spatial arrangement and content among children with NF1. Thirty children with NF1 (ages 8-16) and 30 typically developing children matched by gender and age were tested, using standardized assessments. Children with NF1 had a significantly inferior performance in comparison to control children, on all tests that measured lower and higher level processes. The cognitive planning skill was found as a predictor of the written product's spatial arrangement. The verbal intelligence predicted the written content level. Results suggest that high level processes underlie the poor quality of writing product in children with NF1. Treatment approaches for children with NF1 must include detailed assessments of cognitive planning and language skills.
KW - Cognitive planning
KW - Language skills
KW - Neurofibromatosis type 1
KW - Underling mechanisms
KW - Writing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84897052645&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.03.021
DO - 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.03.021
M3 - Article
C2 - 24691356
AN - SCOPUS:84897052645
SN - 0891-4222
VL - 35
SP - 1310
EP - 1316
JO - Research in Developmental Disabilities
JF - Research in Developmental Disabilities
IS - 6
ER -