Visual-Spatial and Motor Skills Challenges

What are some challenges?

• Completing activities that require hand-eye coordination.

• Difficulties with visual-spatial processing: Receiving and automatically understanding visual information from the environment.

• Difficulties with visual tracking: Maintaining focus on a moving object and switching focus between moving objects.

• Difficulties with space perception.

• Difficulties using facial expressions to label emotions.

What does this look like?

• Clumsiness.

• Delayed motor milestones.

• Challenges tying shoelaces, riding a bike, and participating in sports.

• Challenges with handwriting letters and numbers

• Challenges focusing on one line when reading.

• Trouble typing printed information.

• Challenges understanding complex visual information (charts, maps)

• Challenges understanding where you are relative to other people and objects.

• Challenges understanding depth and distance (makes driving difficult).

Possible diagnoses:

• Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

• Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD/NLD)

• Dysgraphia (#4 only)

• Dyslexia (#4-5 only)

• Dyscalculia (#8 only)

Possible interventions

• Physical therapy

• Occupational therapy

• Work/school accommodations

Click on these links for references on interventions and conditions.