USE OF A TOUCH SENSITIVE COMPUTER TABLET FOR THE QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF HANDWRITING IN ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDERED (ADD) CHILDREN

Abstract

Significant gaps exist in our knowledge of the basis for mild to moderate school disabilities. Children with ADD have a high incidence of dysgraphia along with their behavioral and learning difficulties. Elements which contribute to writing problems include altered neuromaturation, inattention, and fine motor inefficiency. A significant proportion of children with ADD show an improvement in written work when receiving methylphenidate (MP). The usual evaluation of handwriting problems involves a global review of the products of writing without attention to the details of the writing act. Recent computer technology offers tools for the study of important writing variables. We used a microcomputer and a touch sensitive computer tablet to quantify the writing efforts of patients who were undergoing a concurrent double blind placebo controlled assessment of cognitive and behavioral effects of MP. We obtained samples including a)the child's name; b)a spelling word; and c)a set of matched letters. A counterbalanced order of medication and placebo conditions were used to control for practice and order effects. The following quantitative measures of handwriting are analyzed: speed of writing, size of letters, number of stokes per letter, pencil lifts, and fluidity. Analysis of variance indicates significant effect of MP on some of these variables. This system offers a basis for study of writing remediation programs.

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