A comparison of the motor proficiency of children with and without learning disabilities : research article

Abstract

This study aimed to determine if children with learning disabilities showed any significant differences in motor proficiency from "normal" children, that would warrant special attention when addressing their physical education movement needs. Sixty children with learning disabilities and sixty children without learning disabilities between the ages of 8 to 12 years, were randomly selected and matched by age, gender and home language. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency was used to assess the motor proficiency of the subjects. An independent t-test indicated that the children without learning disabilities performed significantly better (p<0.01) on all eight variables. Effect sizes for the significant comparisons ranged between 0.60 and 2.74, which can be interpreted as moderate to large. In order of magnitude, as expressed by percentage, the children without learning disabilities performed better as follows: balance (147.7%), strength (102.9%), upper limb speed and dexterity (81.4%), visual-motor control (36.4%), bilateral coordination (35.2%), upper limb coordination (34.6%), running speed and agility (33.3%) and response speed (23.8%). A physical education programme for children with learning disabilities should give special attention to activities that would enhance the development of these variables.



Keywords: Motor proficiency, Learning disabilities, Physical education


South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol.26(1) 2004: 79-88