An interventional study of Handwriting intervention in Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders, sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 7 Years to 17 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-12-20.
Sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a computerized handwriting training protocol (MovAlyzeR), through daily practice of handwriting on an electronic device to improve handwriting skills in children with tic disorders (TD).
Handwriting is a functional skill underlying almost all academic performance of school-aged children, and handwriting impairment is highlighted by the World Health Organization as a barrier to school participation. The available evidence mentioned in the literature suggests handwriting skills are academically crucial, and handwriting deficits may lead to challenges in performing various academic activities both in and outside the classroom.
Given that children with TD are more likely to have handwriting deficits as suggested in a recent study, they are also more likely to have challenges in their academic performance and success as evidenced in the literature.
In the context of education, strong evidence indicated that handwriting has more cognitive and neurological benefits than using a keyboard when taking notes in the classroom. Therefore, reducing tics and improving handwriting skills rather than an adaptation approach using a word processor or computer may be the goal of intervention.
Results of the investigator's previous study showed that children with Tourette Syndrome (TS) or tic disorders (TD) demonstrated handwriting deficits when compared to the general children population, and were consistent with a recent study conducted in France showing that children with TS exhibited handwriting problems. In addition to illegibility issues in handwriting as indicated by the low score on the Test of handwriting skills (THS-R), children with TS or TD also demonstrated writing deficits in the areas of speed of writing and correct letter case formation.
Since handwriting deficit is an area of concern among children with TS or TD, one way to improve these children's handwriting skills is through handwriting practice. NeuroScript, LLC., has developed a software program (MovAlyzeR) that allows children to practice handwriting on an electronic device (such as tablet, laptop, etc). Given that the practice is completed on an electronic device with immediate feedback, this handwriting program may serve as a strong incentive to motivate children practicing handwriting. In order to provide evidence for the educators and therapists on the effectiveness of this software program, it is important to evaluate its effectiveness on improving handwriting skills among children with TS or TD.
240 studies on the registry are indexed under Tourette Syndrome; 40 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 12 is below the median of 36 across 183 interventional studies indexed under Tourette Syndrome.
Browse Tourette Syndrome studies →University of Alabama at Birmingham is the lead sponsor of 1,421 studies on the registry; 277 are open to participants now.
Of its 164 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 130 (79%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants are diagnosed with tic disorder and/or Tourette syndrome. They will undergo treatment to improve overall handwriting skills.
Other: Handwriting intervention
children will practice handwriting 5 days p/week, 15-20 minutes p/day for 12 weeks using the movalyzer software program.
Scores of handwriting competence for legibility
Scores are recorded by standard scores. Children scoring greater than 1 standard deviation below the mean of 100 will receive intervention.
Time frame: Pre treatment, baseline
Scores of handwriting competence for legibility
Scores are recorded by standard scores with a mean of 100.
Time frame: Post treatment, after week 12
Scores of handwriting competence for speed
Scores are recorded by standard scores. Children scoring greater than 1 standard deviation below the mean of100 will receive intervention.
Time frame: Pre treatment, baseline
Scores of handwriting competence for speed
Scores are recorded by standard scores with a mean of 100
Time frame: Post treatment, after week 12
Percentage of handwriting competence for reversal of letters
Reversal of letters are scored as an ancillary score using three categorizations: test further (i.e., below 16th percentile or more one standard deviation (SD) below the normative mean or z-score \< -1), watch (i.e., between 16th percentile and 50th percentile), and no concern (i.e., 50th percentile and above). Children scoring below 16% or 1 standard deviation below will receive intervention.
Time frame: Pre treatment, baseline
Percentage of handwriting competence for reversal of letters
Reversal of letters are scored as an ancillary score using three categorizations: test further (i.e., below 16th percentile or more one standard deviation (SD) below the normative mean or z-score \< -1), watch (i.e., between 16th percentile and 50th percentile), and no concern (i.e., 50th percentile and above).
Time frame: Post treatment, after week 12
Percentage of handwriting competence for letters touching one another
Letters touching each other are scored as an ancillary score using three categorizations: test further (i.e., below 16th percentile or more one standard deviation (SD) below the normative mean or z-score \< -1), watch (i.e., between 16th percentile and 50th percentile), and no concern (i.e., 50th percentile and above). Children scoring below 16% or 1 standard deviation below will receive intervention.
Time frame: Pre treatment, baseline
Percentage of handwriting competence for letters touching one another
Letters touching each other are scored as an ancillary score using three categorizations: test further (i.e., below 16th percentile or more one standard deviation (SD) below the normative mean or z-score \< -1), watch (i.e., between 16th percentile and 50th percentile), and no concern (i.e., 50th percentile and above).
Time frame: Post treatment, after week 12
Percentage of handwriting competence for case errors
Case errors are scored as an ancillary score using three categorizations: test further (i.e., below 16th percentile or more one standard deviation (SD) below the normative mean or z-score \< -1), watch (i.e., between 16th percentile and 50th percentile), and no concern (i.e., 50th percentile and above). Children scoring below 16% or 1 standard deviation below will receive intervention.
Time frame: Pre treatment, baseline
Percentage of handwriting competence for case errors
Case errors are scored as an ancillary score using three categorizations: test further (i.e., below 16th percentile or more one standard deviation (SD) below the normative mean or z-score \< -1), watch (i.e., between 16th percentile and 50th percentile), and no concern (i.e., 50th percentile and above).
Time frame: Post treatment, after week 12
Plan to share: No — To be determined
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Ran from Jan 2021 to primary completion in Dec 2023, 35 months.
Of 65 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Tourette Syndrome, half reached primary completion within 33 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 22 and three quarters within 50. This study's 35 months is close to that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 65 studies reached it within 33 months; a quarter within 22 and three quarters within 50.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
University of Alabama at Birmingham →