Simple Categorization of Human Figure Drawings at 5 Years of Age as an Indicator of Developmental Delay

Purpose: To elucidate the association between developmental stage of human figure drawing(HFD) and fine motor control, visual perception, and further investigate its potential to be used for screening developmental delay.

Methods: Participants were 301 children at 5½ years of age, 176 born preterm and 125 at term, whose HFDs were categorized into six developmental stages. Motor-Free-Visual-Perception Test, Movement-ABC, Performance Intelligence Quotient (PIQ: Wechsler Scale), and the Visual-Motor Integration test were used. Fine motor functions were explored using ImageJ.

Results: Age-expected HFDs were drawn by 87% of the children, while 13%, mostly preterm boys, drew immature ones. Stages of HFD were related to both PIQ and Movement-ABC. Visuomotor control and visual perception significantly explained the HFD. The sensitivity and specificity of HFD as a screening tool was moderate to good.

Conclusions: HFD is influenced by visual perception and visuomotor control and can be used for screening developmental delay at preschool age.