Artificial intelligence-supported occupational therapy program on handwriting skills in children at risk for developmental coordination disorder: Randomized controlled trial

Aim

This study investigates the impact of an AI-supported occupational therapy program, developed using the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), on handwriting skills in children at risk for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).

Method

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 42 children aged 8–12 years, identified as being at risk for DCD using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ). Participants were randomized into an intervention group (n = 21) and a control group (n = 21). The intervention group received an AI-supported occupational therapy program twice weekly for 8 weeks. Handwriting performance was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment (MHA).

Results

Significant improvements were observed in the intervention group across all MHA subdomains, including writing speed, alignment, size, spacing, shape, and legibility (p < 0.001). The most pronounced improvements were in shape (d=2.279), alignment (d=1.893), and the total score (d=2.291). In contrast, the control group showed minimal changes, with significant improvement observed only in alignment (p = 0.006; d=0.311). Between-group comparisons demonstrated superior performance in the intervention group across all subdomains (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study highlights the transformative potential of AI-supported occupational therapy programs in addressing the multifaceted challenges of handwriting rehabilitation in children at risk for DCD.