The design and efficacy of a robot-mediated visual motor program for children learning disabilities

This study investigated the effects of a robot-mediated visual motor program on improving the visual motor skills of children ages 5 to 11 years with learning disabilities and visual motor delays. It also compared the effects of a robotic program with traditional occupational therapy and tested the reliability of the computer-generated scores. A randomized experimental design was used with 25 students assigned to either a robotic program group or traditional occupational therapy. The primary outcome measure was the Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (VMI). Non-parametric statistics evaluated the effects of intervention and compared the two methods. The correlation between the computer-based scoring methods and the VMI was tested. The children who received the robotic program demonstrated significant gains in visual motor performance. The correlation between the computer-based scoring and the VMI was moderate, but not significant.