Predicting Participation in Children with DCD

Visuomotor tracking strategies in children: associations with neurodevelopmental symptoms

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) often display motor problems that may impact their daily lives. Studying specific motor characteristics related to spatiotemporal control may inform us about the mechanisms underlying their challenges. Fifty-eight children with varying neurodevelopmental symptoms load (median age: 5.6 years, range: 2.7-12.5 years) performed an interactive tablet-based tracking task. By investigating digit touch errors relative to the target's movement direction, we found that a load of neurodevelopmental symptoms was associated with reduced performance in the tracking of abrupt alternating directions (zigzag) and overshooting the target. In contrast, reduced performance in children without neurodevelopmental symptoms was associated with lagging behind the target. Neurodevelopmental symptom load was also associated with reduced flexibility in correcting for lateral deviations in smooth tracking (spiral). Our findings suggest that neurodevelopmental symptoms are associated with difficulties in motor regulation related to inhibitory control and reduced flexibility, impacting motor control in NDDs.

Basic Activity of Daily Living Evaluation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Do-Eat Washy Adaption Preliminary Psychometric Characteristics

This preliminary study aims to demonstrate the reliability and validity of the adapted Do-Eat Basic activities of daily living (BADL) assessment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants were 53 children ages 6–10 years: 17 diagnosed with high-severity ASD (HS-ASD) and 16 with low-severity ASD according to the DSM-5 and based on the CARS-2, and 20 controls with typical development. Measurement tools were the adapted Do-Eat Washy (Washy), Participation in Childhood Occupations Questionnaire (PICO-Q), and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). The Washy domains exhibited high internal consistency (α = 0.841–0.856). Significant differences were found between the HS-ASD and other groups in the Washy domains, exhibiting discriminant validity. The Washy convergent and concurrent validity indicated good results. A highly substantial negative correlation was shown between the Washy and three PICO-Q ADL difficulty-in-performance items (p < 0.001): bathing (−0.550), hygiene (−0.571), and handwashing (−0.733). The Washy performance scores and the PEDI total score demonstrated a strong correlation. (r = 0.799, p < 0.001). Primary results indicate that, following further research on larger representative samples, the Washy may be a reliable and valid tool for assessing BADL among children with ASD.

Cross-cultural validation of the Arabic version of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire DCDQ'07, in a Lebanese sample of children

BACKGROUND

The revised version of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ'07) is a parent questionnaire designed to identify Developmental Coordination Disorder in 5-15-year-old children.

AIM

The aim of this study was to carry out the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the DCDQ'07, to examine psychometric properties, and to define the cut-off scores of the Arabic-Lebanese version of the questionnaire (DCDQ-AL).

METHOD

38 parents of children with and without motor difficulties participated in the translation and cross-cultural phase. As for the validation phase and the study of the psychometric properties, a total of one hundred and twenty-four typically developing children (N=124) aged between 5 and 15 years were recruited through schools in different districts across Lebanon, whereas the clinical sample (N = 56) of children with motor difficulties was recruited via psychomotor rehabilitation centers in Beirut and psychomotor therapists working in private clinics across the country. This study used the Movement Assessment Battery for Children - second edition (MABC-2) motor test developed to classify children according to their degree of motor impairment.

RESULTS

For test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability, excellent Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) were shown with values of 0.94 and 0.9, respectively. The internal consistency value for the DCDQ-AL was high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.947). Correlations between the DCDQ-AL scores and Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2) show adequate convergent validity (ρ = 0.65, p < .001). Differences in DCDQ-AL scores between children with and without motor difficulties (p < .001) provide clear evidence of discriminative validity. The Lebanese cut-offs are very similar to the Canadian version, except for the 5-7 age band. The DCDQ-AL shows a sensitivity of 0.91 and specificity of 0.77. The adapted questionnaire showed solid psychometric properties, allowing us to conclude that the DCDQ-AL can be used to support a diagnosis of DCD.

CONCLUSION

The results provide evidence that the DCDQ-AL is a valid clinical screening tool for DCD that can assist Arabic speaking professionals in screening children aged 5-15 years old who are at risk of having DCD.

The role of poor motor coordination in predicting adults' health related quality of life

BACKGROUND

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and its functional restrictions may persist into adulthood. Nevertheless, the knowledge about DCD in adulthood and its association with health related quality of life (HRQOL) is limited.

AIMS

To explore how individuals with suspected DCD experience DCD impacts as children and as adults and how these experiences predict their HRQOL.

METHODS

Participants were 200 healthy individuals aged 20-64 (mean 32.66 ± 11.51): 18 with suspected DCD and 182 with normal motor performance (according to the Adult Developmental Coordination Disorder/Dyspraxia, ADC, Checklist cut-off score). Participants completed a sociodemographic/health questionnaire, the ADC and the WHOQOL-BREF which measures physical, psychological, social and environmental HRQOL.

RESULTS

The group with suspected DCD had significantly lower HRQOL (except for the physical domain). In the general sample, current feelings about the individual's performance predicted all HRQOL domains. Among the study group, HRQOL was predicted by current perception of performance and difficulties experienced as a child.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The negative effects of DCD during childhood and adulthood may reduce adults' HRQOL, mainly in the psycho-social and environmental domains. The detailed profile provided by the ADC with its functional context may assist in evaluating DCD in adults and in tailoring intervention for improving HRQOL.

Developmental coordination disorder: the impact on the family

PURPOSE

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with an estimated prevalence of 2-6% in school-aged children. Children with DCD score lower in multiple quality of life (QOL) domains. However, the effect of a child's DCD on their parents' and family's QOL has not previously been assessed in a UK population. We aimed to assess parental and family QOL within UK families containing at least one child aged 6-18 years who was diagnosed with DCD.

METHODS

A mixed-methods study was designed, using an online questionnaire that incorporated the Family QOL Scale and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey.

RESULTS

The emotional and disability support domains of family QOL were markedly negatively affected by DCD, with lack of support by medical and educational professionals cited as a major source of stress. Parental mental health was also negatively affected. In many cases, the child's DCD impacted on parental work life, family social life and siblings' well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

Having a child with DCD has a considerable impact on families. This needs to be recognised by healthcare and other professionals; otherwise, services and support may not be appropriately targeted and the negative sequelae of DCD may ripple beyond the individual with costly social and economic consequences.