Visual Motor Integration
Visual motor integration is the ability to coordinate visual perception in fine motor control that allows us to use our eyes and our hands in a coordinated manner to perform tasks such as copying letters or numbers and forming shapes and patterns. A child may not have any visual issues with acuity or perception and may not have any challenges with hand strength or dexterity but the connection between their visual and motor system is not as organized or efficient as it should be. Many children with visual motor deficits might have some of the following difficulties:
- Poor handwriting with letter reversals, line awareness and copying
- Difficulty recognizing patterns and copying block design
- Difficulty with movement games and sports
- Difficulty keeping place when reading and with puzzles
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Visual Perception
Visual perception is the ability to recognize, recall, discriminate and make sense of what we see. Good visual perceptual skills are important for everyday skills such as reading, writing, working puzzles, cutting, drawing, doing math, dressing and even finding your sock on the floor. If a child has difficulties with visual perception they might have difficulty:
- Completing puzzles, and remembering the alphabet in sequence
- Spatial concepts such as in/out, under, on, up/down, in front of, etc.
- Reverse numbers or letters, and difficulty copying from a board, book,
- Discriminating letter size and/or dressing such as matching socks
