Study of motor skills in 5-years-old children (Semnan, 2006)

Introduction: The current study was performed to assay motor skills (rapid naming, word and phrase repetition) in 5 years old children that these skills are in close relationship with speech and reading development. The aim of this study was to identify the mean and 95% confidence interval of these developmental aspects in normal 5 years old children in order to finding the normal range of these skills, which are the basis of reading and speaking. Performing a screening test in order to diagnosis, training and treatment of abnormal motor skills in 5-year-old children was another aim of the present study. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional and descriptive study. All nursery schools affiliated to education and welfare office in Semnan were included in this study. In each nursery school, children with auditory, visual and speech disorders were excluded and 20% of those whose mother tongue was farsi or semnani were selected randomly (a total number of 2256 persons). Statistical analysis was carried out using independent t test and Chi-square test. Results: The means were as follows: rapid picture naming 72 words in 100 seconds, word repetition 4.97, unfamiliar phrase repetition 4.31. There was no significant difference between girls and boys with regard to the above skills. Conclusion: The mean of word repetition in Semnanian 5-year-old children was greater than mean of unfamiliar phrase repetition. Semnanian 5-year-old children's mean of rapid picture naming and word repetition was lower than that of 5-year-old children in Tehran, but in unfamiliar phrase repetition Semnanian 5- year-old children's scores were greater