DCD Flashcards
Medical vs Educational definition of learning disability
Medical: focus on cause/etiology
Educational: focuses on behavior
Learning disability (IDEIA)
Includes: perceptual disabilities, brain injury, dyslexia, developmental aphasia.
NOT 2* to visual, hearing, motor disabilities, MR, emotional disturbance, environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantages.
LD stats
2.9 million 6-21 year olds have spec ed for it.
8-10% of children
28% increase in incidence since 2002.
Males>females
Possible causes of LD
Brain dysfunction, allergies, metabolic disorders, biochemical abnormalities, genetics, maturational lag, environment (neglect/abuse), low birth weight
Common characteristics of LD
Variable:
may result in speech, spatial orientation, perception, coordination, activity level dysfunction.
different patterns of organization with LD
Subgroups of LD
Verbal learning impairments
Nonverbal learning impairments
Motor coordination deficits
Social/emotional challenges
Left Hemisphere
More focal, precise organization, facilitates accurate coding for speech
Sequential, linear processing
Analyzes details
Responsible for: recognizing words, comprehending reading, math, language
Right Hemisphere
More diffuse organization, allows dissimilar information to be processed simultaneously.
Spatial processing and visual perception
Wholistic-overall organization or “gestalt” of a pattern
Responsible for: non-verbal stimuli reaction, facial expression recognition, math reasoning and judgement.
LD and motor deficits
50% with LD have motor coordination issues
50% have ADHD
Often overt
in 1994, developmental coordination disorder was coined to address this.
DSM IV criteria for DCD
A: marked impairment in development of coordination
B: impairment significantly interferes with academic achievement or ADL
C: not resulting from medical condition
D: not consistent with intellectual disability
DCD incidence
5-10% of children 5 to 11
Males>females(possibly due to referral bias)
Pathophysiology of DCD
No known cause
Multifactorial
No homogenous clinical signs other than delay in motor development.
Slow movement time
ex post facto correlation with prematurity.
cellular level cause?: neurotransmitter/receptor
Can have SI disorder
Gross motor DCD
diminished core strength/posture
delayed balance reactions
slower rate of motor performance
poor anticipation
delayed acquisition of motor milestones
difficulty learning bilateral tasks
Hesitant to try novel tasks
More sedentary
Avoidance of team sports.
Dont follow rules of games
Fine motor DCD
Lower wrist/hand strength
Maladaptive grasp pattern
Poor pressure grading
Poor refinement of movement
Often drops items
Delayed dressing skills
Trouble managing utensils
Poor drawing/handwriting
Difficulty articulating
Visual motor DCD
Difficulty with visual guided motor actions (hand/eye coordination)
Hesitant on stairs
Inaccurate kick/hit/catching
Poor spatial judgement/planning
