Handwriting assessments for Chinese elementary school students

Abstract

Handwriting problems in Chinese elementary school students have rarely been researched. Efforts to examine handwriting difficulties in school-age children have been hampered by the lack of a reliable and valid instrument. With the current trend toward greater accountability, the need for standardized assessments specific to client needs is urgent. The Tseng Handwriting Problem Checklist (THPC) and the Chinese Handwriting Speed Test (CHAST) were developed to meet the need of occupational therapists for educationally relevant, norm-referenced tests that can identify school-age children with handwriting difficulties as well as document treatment efficacy. In this article, the development of the tests and studies using the THPC are reported.