Navid Mirzakhani - Department Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Negar Miri-Lavasani - Department of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Atieh Javantash - Department Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Rama Yasaei - American University of Antigua Medical School, San Francisco, USA.
Zahra Pashazadeh - Department Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop an Iranian Hand writing Speed Test (I-CHST) for testing of Iranian students aged ۸-۱۲. To date, no  norms of handwriting speed have been published for hand-writing speed of the Iranian students. Methods: A sample of ۴۰۰ typically developing Iranian students across four age cohorts was recruited. Among those ۴۰۰ students ۵۰% were girls and ۵۰%  were boys. ۷۳% were studding at government schools and ۲۷% were from the private schools. ۷۹% were right handed and ۱۱% were left handed. The results showed that the handwriting speed assessment test has excellent inter-rater reliability (r=۱, P=۰.۰۰۰) and construct validity (r=۰.۷۹۸, P=۰.۰۰۰). Results: The findings showed that handwriting speed increases with age and the rate of increase was found to be greatest among Iranian children aged ۸-۱۲. It is also found that the girls aged ۱۱-۱۲ 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.

Handwriting speed, Typically developing Children, Occupational therapy, Test development