KNGF evidence statement motor handwriting problems in children

"Handwriting is a skill which allows children and adults to communicate. Although the use of computers is growing, handwriting is still worldwide an important and the most immediate tool for graphic communication. At school writing supports the learning process in other domains like reading, mathematics and history and the older children are the more they spent their time at school with writing.  If children have writing problems, this can affect negatively general school performance and self-perception. In the Netherlands over 30% of children encounter difficulties with learning to write to a greater or lesser extent.

Although learning to write is a cognitive skill, the motor component in the learning process shows a major role.  As a result, it has become common in The Netherlands that parents and/or teachers consult a paediatric physio- or occupational therapist in primary care with a request for help.

In 2009, we conducted a digital survey among all members of The Dutch Society for Paediatric Physiotherapists (acronym: NVFK), specialized member of the Royal Dutch Association for Physical Therapy (acronym: KNGF). It appeared that paediatric physiotherapists spent 25-50% of their time in children with handwriting problems. Moreover, it was clear that the variance in diagnostics and intervention methods was large. These findings stressed the clinical relevance to the development of an Evidence Statement.  Therefore, the NVFK has assigned the project group ‘Children with handwriting problems’ to develop an Evidence Statement (ES) for paediatric physiotherapists.  The objective of the ES was to achieve uniformity in indication, diagnostics and intervention".

Source: The Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy