Effectiveness of a Visual Praxis–Based Occupational Therapy Program on Quality of Life in Children with Developmental Dyslexia

This study adopts an experimental research design to evaluate the effectiveness of a Visual Praxis–Based Occupational Therapy Program on the quality of life of children with developmental dyslexia. Ethical approval will be obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Chettinad University Hospital (CHRI, CARE) prior to study initiation. Written informed consent will be secured from parents or legal guardians, along with assent from participating children, and all procedures will adhere to established ethical guidelines for research involving human participants. A total of 50 children diagnosed with developmental dyslexia will be screened and recruited. Participants aged 8–12 years will be selected from the Occupational Therapy Department of Chettinad Hospital and selected clinics in Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu District. Diagnosis and eligibility will be confirmed using DSM-5 criteria, and only those meeting the inclusion criteria will be enrolled. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 25) or a control group (n = 25) to minimize selection bias and ensure group comparability. Baseline assessment of quality of life will be conducted for all participants using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), which evaluates physical, emotional, social, and school functioning. The intervention group will receive a structured Visual Praxis–Based Occupational Therapy Program delivered by a qualified occupational therapist. The program will consist of 45-minute sessions, three times per week for four weeks, totaling 12 sessions. Therapy will be individualized and age-appropriate, focusing on visual discrimination, spatial relations, visual–motor integration, motor planning, and functional participation relevant to academic and daily living activities. The control group will receive no visual praxis–based intervention during the study period and will continue with routine activities or standard care. Post-intervention assessment using the PedsQL will be conducted for both groups. Pre- and post-intervention scores will be analyzed within and between groups using appropriate statistical methods to determine the program’s effectiveness in improving quality of life.