Visual Perceptual and Visual Motor Performance in Children with Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

We examined the incidence of visual-perceptual and visual-motor deficits in children with psychiatric disorders. A retrospective chart review was performed for 25 subjects, 21 boys and 4 girls, to whom both the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills (Non-Motor)(TVPS), (Gardner, 1982) and the Test of Visual Motor Skills (TVMS), (Gardner, 1986) had been administered. Analysis of the data indicated that the TVMS scores were significantly lower than the TVPS scores. The findings suggested that clinicians should assess visual perception and visual motor performance as separate functions. The need for longitudinal research investigating the effects of age and attention on test results was discussed.