THE RELATIONSHIP OF POSTROTATORY NYSTAGMUS DURATION TO BALANCE AND FINE VISUAL-MOTOR COORDINATION AMONG NORMAL, LEARNING DISABLED, AND MILDLY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN by GEORGE, RUTH LOUISE, P.E.D., Indiana University, 1984, 233 pages; AAT 8522761

Abstract (Summary)

Statement of the Problem. The problem was to study the relationship of postrotatory nystagmus duration to static balance, dynamic balance, and fine visual-motor coordination among normal, learning disabled (LD), and mildly mentally handicapped (MMH) children, and also to determine if the nystagmus and motor performance measures differentiated among the three subject groups.

Procedure. Ninety male and female subjects ages 7 through 9 years were randomly selected, with 30 subjects representing each subject group. Subjects were administered twice a battery of tests consisting of the Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test, the Fregly and Graybiel Ataxia Test Battery, and the rotary pursuit and steadiness groove tests. The relationship of nystagmus duration to the motor performance variables was analyzed for each group using multiple regression techniques, while discriminant function analysis was utilized to provide information about group differences.

Findings. Nystagmus duration was not related to any of the motor performance variables for any of the three subject groups. The variables discriminated among the three subject groups. The LD and MMH groups did not differ for nystagmus duration, but did exhibit a shorter nystagmus duration than the normal group. Performance of the normal group exceeded that of the LD and MMH groups on all of the motor performance variables except one measure of dynamic balance. The LD and MMH groups did not differ in motor performance except for one measure of dynamic balance and the two measures of visual-motor coordination.

Conclusions. (1) There is no relationship between nystagmus duration and static balance, dynamic balance, or fine visual-motor coordination for normal, LD, or MMH children, (2) LD and MMH children exhibit a shorter nystagmus duration than normal children, (3) normal children demonstrate superior balance and visual-motor skills as compared with LD and MMH children, (4) performance of MMH children may exceed that of LD children in selected dynamic balance skills, (5) LD children demonstrate superior visual-motor skills as compared with MMH children.

Indexing (document details)

School: Indiana University

School Location: United States -- Indiana

Source: DAI-A 46/08, p. 2227, Feb 1986

Source type: Dissertation

Subjects: Physical education

Publication Number: AAT 8522761

Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=749021671&sid=36&Fmt=2&cl

ientId=45091&RQT=309&VName=PQD

ProQuest document ID: 749021671_{Copyright © 2011 ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved.}

Databases selected: Dissertations & Theses

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