Date of Award

2014

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.H.K.

Department

Kinesiology

Keywords

ADHD, Attention, automaticity, motor control, stylus pressure

Supervisor

McNevin, Nancy

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

ADHD is a neurobiological disorder typically developed and diagnosed in childhood (Faraone et al., 2003). Impaired motor function is commonly observed in individuals with ADHD, but often overlooked (Brossard-Racine et al. 2011; Meyer and Sagvolden, 2006). Deficits in movement accuracy and increased movement variability can have a profound impact on fine motor skills, such as handwriting (Adi-Japha et al., 2007). The purpose of this study was to determine if automaticity during a handwriting task is impaired in adults with ADHD. The results of this study indicated that adults with ADHD do not have reduced automaticity in their handwriting, but do have significantly increased mean stylus pressure was observed while writing. This suggests that individuals with ADHD may have simple, or dystonic, writer's cramp. Further research should be conducted to determine if simple or dystonic writer's cramp occurs in individuals with ADHD. If so, appropriate treatment methods should be determined.

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