Hand Skills and Visual Perception

Question 1

How does motor control develop in a child?

Answer 1

From proximal to distal

From gross to specific

Question 2

What are the five elements that hand skills require?

Answer 2

1. Vision
2. Somatosensation
3. Sensory integration-registration
4. Skeletal integrity and muscle function
5. Postural control and body awareness

Question 3

Identify the six hand skill patterns

Answer 3

1. Reach
2. Grasp
3. Carry
4. Voluntary release
5. In-hand manipulation
6. Bilateral hand use

Question 4

Describe the hand skill pattern of “reach”

Answer 4

The extension and movement of the arm for grasping or placing objects

Like “carry”, to requires visual regard and midline orientation.

Question 5

Describe the hand skill pattern of “grasp”

Answer 5

The attainment of an object with the hand

There are two types; power grasp (using the entire hand) and precision grasp (using the thumb and the finger tips)

Question 6

Describe the hand skill pattern of “carry”

Answer 6

The transportation of an object from one place to another using the hands

Like “reach”, to requires visual regard and midline orientation.

Question 7

Describe the hand skill pattern of “voluntary release”

Answer 7

The intentional letting go of an object at a specific time and place

The development includes:

1. Initially release by stabilising on a surface
2. Then without stabilising
3. Continue to refine
4. Become more controlled

Question 8

Describe the hand skill pattern of “In-hand manipulation”

Answer 8

The adjustment of an object in the hand after grasping it

Question 9

Describe the hand skill pattern of “bilateral hand use”

Answer 9

The use of both hands together to accomplish an activity

Question 10

What are the five components of manipulation?

Answer 10

• Finger to palm translation
• Palm to finger
• Shift: linear movement of the object on the pads of fingers, buttons etc
• Simple rotation: bottle cap, puzzle piece etc
• Complex rotation: involves rotation 180 degrees - 360 degrees once or repetitively, pencil

Question 11

What is bimanual action?

Answer 11

A bilateral hand skill

• Uses each hand differently in the task (eg one to stabilise one to manipulate an object)
• To do this, the child will need to be able to dissociate the two sides of the body
• Established around 17-18 months of age

Question 12

What is simultaneous manipulation?

Answer 12

A bilateral hand skill

- Mature stage of bilateral hand use in which the hands are used for highly differentiated tasks (eg scissors)

Question 13

Describe hand preference

Answer 13

The tendency to perform the majority of tasks with one hand for spontaneous untrained hand use. The more skilled hand becomes the more preferred hand.

Before the age of 6 we refer to this as hand preference, not handedness.

Question 14

Describe handedness

Answer 14

When a child demonstrates a clear preference for one hand that has superior performance.

Handedness is usually established between 6-9 years of age.

Question 15

Define mixed-handedness

Answer 15

When a person favours one hand for some tasks and the other hand for others.

Question 16

Define ambidextrous

Answer 16

When there is no difference in the skill or performance between the hands.

Question 17

What is visual perception made up of?

Answer 17

Visual reception and visual cognition

Question 18

Define visual reception

Answer 18

Taking in initial visual information and organising it

Question 19

Define visual cognition

Answer 19

Processing visual information to give meaning to it

Question 20

What are the two types of visual perception?

Answer 20

1. Object form/vision

2. Spatial vision

Question 21

Describe object form perception

Answer 21

Initially recognising objects by their general appearance, and then developing the ability to recognise details

• It relies heavily on visual discrimination
• It is important for the development of reading and writing

Question 22

What does object from perception include?

Answer 22

• Form constancy
• Visual closure
• Figure ground

Question 23

Describe form constancy

Answer 23

Recognising forms/objects as the same even if they present in different sizes, positions and environments

Question 24

Describe visual closure

Answer 24

Identifying objects from an incomplete presentation. It enables us to only see part of an object but still know what it is.

Question 25

Describe figure ground

Answer 25

Differentiating between visual information in the foreground and background - separating the important visual information from the distracting surrounding information

Question 26

Describe spatial vision

Answer 26

Developmental process of organising space

Question 27

What does spatial vision include?

Answer 27

• Spatial relations
• Depth perception
• Topographic orientation

Question 28

Describe spatial relations

Answer 28

Determining where we are located in relation to objects and directions (behind, infront, left, right etc)

Question 29

Describe depth perception

Answer 29

Determining the relative distance between figures, objects, ourselves and landmarks. It helps us to understand how we move in space and navigate different environments/interaction with objects. eg catching a ball, knowing how far to kick a ball, parking etc.

Question 30

Describe topographic orientation

Answer 30

Orientating ourself to the environment. Finding the toilet and making your way back to the classroom.

Question 31

Define visual motor integration

Answer 31

The discrete motor skills to coordinate visual stimulus with corresponding motor action

Also sometimes referred to as hand-eye coordination

Question 32

Define hand-eye coordination

Answer 32

The integration of visual perceptual information with the purposeful movements of the hand and arm

Also sometimes referred to as visual motor integration