Research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Johannesburg, June 2013 / The effectiveness of the Stetro pencil grip in 45 Grade 2 learners with handwriting difficulties was investigated. Monthly assessments considered descriptors including the position joints when writing, the position of the pencil in the hand, hand and arm movements, arm position and posture when writing as well as pencil grasp, the speed and quality of handwriting and tripod pinch strength. The experimental participants used a Stetro pencil grip for two months after which it was removed for one month. The control participants wrote without a pencil grip. Statistically significant improvement was found for the experimental group in the efficiency of their pencil grasps and their use of their fingers when writing. The quality and speed of writing and the pinch strength improved in both groups with the experimental group showing significant change in their index finger DIP position. The use of the Stetro pencil grip was effective in resolving inefficient pencil grasps in 70% of the experimental group.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Johannesburg, 2013 / This study determined outcomes for motor developmental delay in infants, 12-14 months, diagnosed with HIE II and III, at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. Twenty nine infants diagnosed with HIE II and nine infants diagnosed with HIE III were assessed using the Peabody Development Motor Scale- 2, at their corrected age. Demographic, antenatal and perinatal factors similar to those in other studies were found for this sample. Infants with HIE III had significantly more developmental delay (p=0.01) than infants with HIE II. Fifty two percent of infants with HIE II had no delay while a 100% of infants with HIE III presented with disability. A greater percentage of infants had delay in fine motor skills. Infants with severe and moderate disabilities were receiving intervention whereas those mild disabilities were often missed in screening clinics. It is vital to ensure these infants are assessed and followed up to remediate difficulties as soon as they arise.