ABSTRACT
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop an Iranian Hand writing Speed Test [I-CHST] for testing of Iranian students aged 8-12. To date, no norms of handwriting speed have been published for hand-writing speed of the Iranian students.
Methods: A sample of 400 typically developing Iranian students across four age cohorts was recruited. Among those 400 students 50% were girls and 50% were boys. 73% were studding at government schools and 27% were from the private schools. 79% were right handed and 11% were left handed. The results showed that the handwriting speed assessment test has excellent inter-rater reliability [r=1, p=0.000] and construct validity [r=0.798, p=0.000].
Results: The findings showed that handwriting speed increases with age and the rate of increase was found to be greatest among Iranian children aged 8-12. It is also found that the girls aged 11-12 wrote faster than boys of the same age.
Discussion: Based on this research, I-CHST was a valid and reliable test for testing the hand writing speed in Iranian children and it could be used for testing or intervention purposes by the therapists at clinics.