The effect of eye - hand coordination activities on hand skills of educable mental retarded students (7-10 years)]

Normal & skillful function of hand is an essential part of activity of daily living. Analysis of the function of hand shows the major contribution of fine movements. Fine movement is also important in motor development. In this regard, any deficiency in fine movement may cause various problems for children. Hence, assessment of fine movement in children, particularly in mental retardation disorders is a prerequisite of any rehabilitation protocol.

27 mental retarded children were participated in this cross sectional study. Children were in the range of 7-10 Yrs (Mean & SD, 8/11 &1/09 yrs, respectively). Parents were asked to sign the informed consent. Purdue Peg board test was used for the assessment of hand skill. After fifteen sessions of intervention including eye hand coordination activities, Purdue Peg board test were repeated.

Speed of movements (rates in 30 seconds) in dominant & recessive hand, coordination of both hands and hand skills were significantly differed (pre & post intervention, P≤ 0/05).It was also revealed that hand skills are directly related with speed movement of dominant hand. (P≤ 0/05). Furthermore, there was no difference in the eye hand coordination activities of male and female individuals. (P≤ 0/05).

The results of this study showed that eye-hand coordination activities have positively affected the skill of hand movement in educable Mental retardation students in both sex.Simple skills such as speed of hand improved in shorter time in comparison with complicated skills (e.g. coordination of tow hand).Based on these evidences, a comprehensive rehabilitation program including eye hand coordination activities would be suggested for educable Mental retardation individual.