Abstract
The study is concerned with the development of motor skills in young children and the associated difficulties of children suffering from an impairment of motor function. The Stott test of motor impairment is analysed in conjunction with other tests in order that its validity may be assessed. The development of motor skills in young children is traced and the problems of brain damage discussed in relation to the aetiology of motor impairment and its effect on motor skills. The motor ability of impaired children is discussed with particular reference to disturbances in perception and visual-motor function, and, the behavioural characteristics of distractibility, disinhibition and perseveration. The development of tests of motor impairment from the work of Oseretzky to the Stott test is traced, and the need for a reliable test of motor impairment in children is highlighted. The confusion that exists in the field at the present time is discussed, and the problems of meaningful diagnosis outlined. The Stott test of motor impairment and a battery of nine tests sampling areas of brain damage, personality, perceptual abilities, body image and intelligence were administered to 65 'normal' children - controls- (mean age = 8.5 years; mean I.Q. =106), and 24 E. S. N. children (mean age = 8.6 years; mean I.Q. = 70) attending schools in Surrey. Measures of laterality, teacher assessment of impairment and class social structure were also taken. Correlation matrices covering all test scores are produced and the results of the test battery discussed for each group. The correlation matrices are subjected to a series of factor analyses (principal components and varimax) and the relationships between variables discussed. The structure of the Stott test is analysed with special reference to the placing of items in the postulated divisions of the test, and proposals for a shortened restructured ten item form for eight year old children is forwarded. Impairment or 'cut off' scores are produced, based on the distributions of Z scores end regression weights of the variables representing the major dimensions ox the analysis.