There are a few motor issues that could potentially result from prematurity that might contribute to poorer performance specifically on coding-type tasks:
– Reduced dexterity, fine motor control or coordination in the hands/fingers due to mild cerebral palsy or other neurological impacts of prematurity. Coding requires graphomotor speed and accuracy.
– Slower development of bimanual coordination needed to hold paper with one hand while writing numerals with the other at speed.
– Decreased muscle tone, strength or endurance impacting longer handwriting tasks from fatigue or discomfort.
– Delays in visual-motor integration processes used to efficiently translate visual stimuli (symbols) into coordinated motor plans for writing.
– Challenges with eye-hand coordination to simultaneously scan symbols while writing their paired numerals accurately.
– Slower reaction times or movement initiation for transferring visual targets into motor outputs like handwriting.
– Sensory processing issues impacting proprioceptive/kinesthetic feedback used for motor planning and execution at speed.
– Slight tremors, difficulty localizing finger movements or other mild neurological signs potentially affecting graphomotor fluency.
– General tendency toward slower processing speed and fatigue affecting any novel fine motor fluency development.
Of course, these would likely present very mildly if at all in Kenneth’s case. But they could potentially add some cumulative challenge to a task like Coding beyond just cognitive factors alone.
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