Developmental Coordination Disorder

Question 1

What is developmental coordination disorder?

Answer 1

o Condition which presents as motor impairments that interfere with the child’s abilities to participate in physical activities and ADLs
o A childhood condition which may extend to adulthood
o ‘clumsy children’, difficulties tying shoe laces, learning to ride a bike and handwriting.

Question 2

What is the DSM-V criteria for DCD?

Answer 2

• Performance in daily activities that require motor coordination is substantially below that expected, given the persons chronologic age and measured intelligence. This change may manifest as marked delays in achieving motor milestones (eg. walking, crawling, sitting) and as dropping things, clumsiness, poor performance in sports, or poor handwriting
• Criteria:
  o Substantially interferes with academic achievement or activities of daily living
  o The disturbance is not due to ta general medical condition (eg. cerebral palsy, hemiplegia, muscular dystrophy), and it does not meet criteria for a pervasive developmental disorder
  o If mental retardation is present the motor difficulties are in excess of those usually associated with it.

Question 3

How is DCD assessed?

Answer 3

Movement ABC, test of gross motor development, MFUN, BO

Question 4

What is the impact/prognosis of DCD?

Answer 4

can be severe-physical function and self esteem

Question 5

What interventions can be used for DCD?

Answer 5

CO-OP, motor learning

Question 6

What are some common impairments in people with DCD?

Answer 6

• Kinaesthetic perception
• Postural control and sway
• Visual perception
• Motor planning
• Decreased muscle power
• Attention
• Motor execution
• Balance
• Self esteem and social