Evidence-Based Practice: Handwriting Intervention Study

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Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of two approaches used to improve elementary children’s handwriting.

Methods: New York city elementary school students engaged in two handwriting approaches. One group utilized handwriting practice group (Handwriting Club) and the other group engaged in visual–perceptual–motor activities. After 12-weeks, handwriting speed, legibility, and visual–motor skills were examined using multivariate analysis of variance.

Results:  Students who participated in the handwriting practice group demonstrated greater improvements in handwriting legibility than the students in the visual–perceptual–motor activity group. There were no group differences in handwriting speed and visual–motor skills.

Conclusions: The Handwriting Club (intense handwriting practice) is an effective approach for improving handwriting legibility.

Howe, T.-H., Roston, K. L., Sheu, C.-F., & Hinojosa, J. (2013). Assessing handwriting intervention effectiveness in elementary school students: A two-group controlled study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67, 19–http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2013.005470

The Effectiveness of a Handwriting Program

 

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This study investigated the effectiveness of a handwriting program that was implemented in a school setting with 1st graders.  The Write Start Program involves teachers and occupational therapists working together implement activity-based handwriting instruction. 

Purpose: To examine the Write Start program with standard handwriting and writing instruction.

Methods: A nonrandomized trail comparing four classrooms that received the Write Start program with four classrooms receiving standard handwriting instruction.  In a 6-month follow-up, the Write Start group handwriting fluency was higher than the control group's fluency.

Results: The handwriting legibility and speed of the students who participated in the Write Start program were no different than the control group immediately after the intervention, but scored better 6-months after the intervention.  The students with decreased legibility who participated in the Write Start program made significant improvements.

Conclusions:  The Write Start Program may benefit students with writing problems as well as those at risk for handwriting problems.

Case-Smith, J., Weaver, L., & Holland, T. (2014). Effects of a classroom-embedded occupational therapist–teacher 
     handwriting program for first-grade students. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68, 690–698.  http://dx. 
     doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.011585

The Therapy Share: A Wonderful New Resource!

Are you always looking for new treatment ideas and resources to use with your clients?  So is Deirdre Newburn, OTR/L!  Deirdre has been working an occupational therapist in the same skilled nursing facility for four years.  To say at times that she falls into “treatment ruts” would be an understatement.  However, she has found challenges when trying to find resources. Either the material is copyrighted and costs an outrageous amount of money, or the material is not easy to access.  Deirdre shares, “I have spent hours searching the internet for therapy protocols, educational handouts, or safety worksheets to share with my clients or their caregivers.  I have even surrendered at times and just made my own quick handouts for my patients.  I worked alongside a dear friend who had the same issue as a speech language pathologist working in the same setting before she left to work in the schools.  Together we shared our grievances for access to creative materials and came up with a solution!  After coffee shop meetings and late night text messages once our four little boys were in bed we created TheTherapyShare.com.”

TheTherapyShare.com is a new website devoted towards enhancing the ease of access to creative and original healthcare resources in order to enrich the lives of those we serve.  The design of the site is that of an online marketplace where healthcare professionals can upload their digital content to sell or share with their colleagues.  After much market research we found the most receptive populations to initially target were occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, and dietitians/nutritionists, but we hope to expand to encompass all healthcare professions.  The types of resources that are appropriate for uploading to the website are limitless: patient worksheets, home exercise programs, quick reference guides, tip sheets for patients, protocols, caregiver handouts, etc.  The website is growing rapidly, but there is still a great need for more resources to be uploaded to the site. 

If you are a practicing therapist who has created some of your own materials (or have always wanted to, but just need that little extra push) please consider visiting TheTherapyShare.com and uploading your resources for FREE.  The website also gives users the opportunity to create their own marketplace on the site where they can include their biography along with links to their social media platforms or businesses. 

The goal of TheTherapyShare.com is to create a “one stop shop” type of atmosphere for healthcare professionals to network and exchange their valuable information.  We hope others will join our mission and make The Therapy Share a great success! 

Click HERE to register with us for free AND opt in to receive our newsletter to be entered to win a $25 credit towards the purchase of products on our site.  Upload a product of your own to have your name entered twice.

Deirdre Newburn, OTR/L
CEO of The Therapy Share

TheTherapyShare.com

Evidence-Based Practice: Handwriting Intervention

Handwriting Intervention Research

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An occupational therapist is the professional to call when an individual is having trouble with handwriting!  Writing on the lines, letter formation, legibility, and spacing problems are all issues related to handwriting struggles.  When handwriting is difficult, this can lead to frustration, anxiety, and low self-esteem, so it's important to seek help for this issue.

Here is one research study related to handwriting interventions and occupational therapy.  I will continue to add more article reviews!

Effectiveness of School-Based Occupational Therapy Intervention on Handwriting: 

A Comparative Study

Purpose: To examine the effect of school occupational therapy services on handwriting legibility

Methods: Improvements in handwriting legibility, speed, and in-hand manipulation skills in a group of students who received direct handwriting intervention OT services was compared to those of a control group who did not receive services.

Results: Handwriting legibility scores and in-hand manipulation skills in the treatment group improved significantly compared to the control group.

Conclusion: Direct occupational therapy services resulted in improvements with handwriting legibility and in-hand manipulation skills, but handwriting speed was not impacted by the intervention.

Case-Smith, J. (2002). Effectiveness of school-based occupational therapy intervention on handwriting: A comparative 

          study.  American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56(1), 17-25.