Developmental Coordination Disorder

Question 1

Characteristics of DCD

Answer 1

• motor impairments unrelated to a specific neurological disorder or medical condition
• difficulty generalizing motor skills**
• learning the difficulties unrelated to a specific cognitive impairment
• recent evidence indicates these problems could be far reaching into adulthood

Question 2

Signs and Symptoms of DCD

Answer 2

• frequent falling
• unusual gait pattern
• unique way of “fixing” or stabilizing joints
• bumping into people or things
• awkward movements
• clumsy
• decreased strength
• decreased aerobic fitness
• decreased PA levels
• lower tone but not neuro low tone

Question 3

Impact of DCD on Daily Function

Answer 3

• poor percieved competence
• social isolation
• low self esteem
• anxiety
• depressive symptoms
• delayed motor milestones
• difficulty with
  
  • tying shoe laces
  • dressing
  • ball skills
  • riding a bike
  • running
  • sports
  • writing
  • dual tasking
  • multi-tasking

Question 4

Prevalence of DCD

Answer 4

5-6% of school age children

boys >girls 2:1

may be associated with other conditions: ADHD, fractures, obesity, neurologic i.e. CP

Question 5

DSMIV diagnosis Criteria

Answer 5

• Motor Performance that is substantially below expected levels
• criterion A, without accomodations, significantly interferes with activities of daily living or academic achievement
• the disturbance is NOT due to a general medical condition aka - diagnosis of exclusion

Question 6

Ruling Out DCD

Answer 6

• recent hx/trauma
• deterioration of previously learned skills
• HAs, eye pain, blurred vision
• global developmental delay
• increased mm tone
• asymmetry (tone or strength)
• musculoskeletal deformity
• neurocutaneous lesion
• avoidance eye contact, unsocial
• Gower’s sign
• ataxia, dysarthria
• absence of DTRs
• dysmorphic features
• visual impairment

Question 7

Brain Involvement

Answer 7

• cerebellum = coordination, error detection, LTM motor
• basal ganglia = initation and control of movement
• parietal lobe = sensory integration, motor planning, manip of objects
• corpus callosum = largest white matter structure, connects L/R hemispheres
• Frontal Lobe = personality, judgement, anticipatory movement, scaling, recruitment from LTM and other parts of brain
• anterior cingulate = error detection, anticipation
• dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex = helps with LTM and repetition of STM