Participation patterns of school-aged children with and without DCD

Participation Patterns in Leisure Activities of 6- to 8-Year-Old Typically Developing Children in Relation to Their Motor Performance

The average level of children's motor performance has decreased in the past decades. Therefore, it is important to identify risk- or enabling factors for motor performance. One such factor could be children's participation in leisure activities (LA). LA are non-obligatory and intrinsically motivated activities performed during free time. They include physical activities, such as individual and team sports and other types of activities, such as doing crafts, hanging out with friends, and playing musical instruments. The present study explores how participating in different combinations of LA (i.e. participation patterns) are related to children's motor performance using a person-centered approach. Ninety 6- to 8-year-old typically developing children (57.8% boys) were recruited from six Dutch primary schools. LA participation and motor performance were measured with the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment questionnaire and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2, respectively. Children were grouped in patterns using Cluster Analysis. Comparisons among patterns were performed with one-way multivariate analysis of variance. As hypothesized, children who participated in a greater variety of LA (i.e., higher participation diversity) and who engaged more frequently in each LA (i.e., higher participation intensity) scored better on manual dexterity, balance, and total motor performance compared to those with lower participation diversity and intensity. Based on these findings, coaches, physical educators, and parents should create opportunities for children to participate in a broad range of LA and to engage in these LA frequently.

Exploring adults' recollections of growing up with childhood motor difficulties: a qualitative study using systematic text condensation

OBJECTIVE

To explore the ramifications of childhood motor difficulties, providing insights into their impact and consequences over time.

DESIGN

A qualitative study using semistructured individual interviews. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation.

SETTING

Neonatal intensive care recipients born at Uppsala University Children's Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden, between 1986 and 1989, were enrolled in a longitudinal follow-up study and subsequently interviewed in 2019-2020.

PARTICIPANTS

13 individuals in their early 30s, who met the criteria for developmental coordination disorder or performed below the 5th percentile on motor tests at 6.5 years of age, were interviewed. Those with co-occurring deficits in attention or social behavioural at age 6.5 were excluded.

RESULTS

Two themes emerged: (1) lifelong challenges and (2) navigating the journey of motor difficulties: support, awareness and confidence. Five participants reported persistent motor difficulties. They adapted and integrated these challenges into their daily lives without feeling constrained. Parental support was crucial to their success, whereas support from schools was limited.

CONCLUSION

Adults who faced motor difficulties in childhood developed effective coping strategies, overcame challenges and now lead fulfilling lives. The findings stress the importance of parental support and understanding, addressing contextual factors and fostering positive attitudes and supportive environments to enhance well-being and participation.

Which outcomes are key to the pre-intervention assessment profile of a child with developmental coordination disorder? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Purpose of this study was to determine what key aspects of function should be incorporated to make up a pre-intervention assessment profile of a child with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD); more specifically, what aspects of functioning are implicated in DCD and what is their relative impact?

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, for which Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and Proquest were searched (last update: April 2023, PROSPERO: CRD42023461619). Case-control studies were included to determine point estimates for performances on field-based tests in different domains of functioning. Risk of bias was assessed, and level of evidence estimated. Random-effect meta-analyses were performed to calculate the pooled standardized mean differences for domains of functioning and subgrouping was done for clinically relevant subdomains. Heterogeneity was determined with I2.

RESULTS

121 papers were included for analyses. Data of 5 923 children with DCD were included (59.8% boys) and 23 619 Typically Developing (TD) children (45.8% boys). The mean (SD) age of the DCD group was 10.3y (1.2) and 9.3y (1.3) for the TD children. Moderate evidence was found for motor performance, executive functions, sensory processing and perceptions, cognitive functions and sports and leisure activities to be affected in children with DCD.

CONCLUSION

Differences between the two groups varied per domain of functioning. This emphasizes the diversity present within children with DCD and provides a rationale for explaining the heterogeneity in this patient group. Yet, results highlight the potential involvement of all these domains and call for clinicians to be alert not only to examine motor skill difficulties but also other aspects of function. Results indicate the need to develop an individualized pre-intervention multi-dimensional assessment profile for each child with DCD. It also supports the important role that clinicians play in an interdisciplinary team to tackle the difficulties encountered by children with DCD.

A Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Czech Version of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire: The Content Validity Part

The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) is a widely used parent questionnaire for screening motor coordination disorders in children aged 5-15 years. Despite increasing motor difficulties in children, a validated version is lacking in Central Europe. In addition, previous studies pointed out that several DCDQ items were shown to be problematic in different cultural environments. We found that the majority of these studies did not assess the item's content validity approach for keeping the semantic form and linguistic intelligibility of the original items. Therefore, this study aimed to translate the DCDQ, determine the content validity of items, and adapt the DCDQ for Czech children aged 6-10 years, where the identification of motor difficulties is crucial. Back-translation was employed, and face validity was consulted with linguistic experts and occupational therapists. A sample of 25 bilingual parents and practitioners evaluated the translated version, with content validity assessed using the Content Validity Ratio coefficient (CVR). Initial CVR scores ranged from 0.6 to 1.0. Lower scores were found for items 14 and 15, which were shown to be problematic in previous studies. The reason for the lower content validity in these items was due to double negation. Following linguistic modifications, the CVR values improved (range: 0.87-1.0), indicating content and semantic stability. Our findings underscore the importance of considering content validity and language specificity, including issues like double negation, during cross-cultural questionnaire validation to mitigate potential psychometric concerns in the future. The adapted Czech version exhibits significant content validity, thereby warranting further validation of its psychometric properties.

Test-Retest Reliability, Criterion-Related Validity, and Ecological Validity of the Test of Visual-Motor Skills, Third Edition, in Kindergarten Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder

IMPORTANCE

Establishing empirical evidence on the psychometric properties of the Test of Visual-Motor Skills (3rd ed.; TVMS-3) is helpful for guiding its use as an assessment of visual-motor integration (VMI) skills in kindergarten children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD).

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the test-retest reliability, criterion-related validity, and ecological validity of the TVMS-3 in Taiwanese kindergarten children with DCD.

DESIGN

A nonexperimental, descriptive, correlational design.

SETTING

A hospital in Central Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-seven kindergarten children with DCD were recruited in the study.

OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Intraclass correlation coefficient, percentage of minimal detectable change, and paired t test (Wilcoxon signed rank test) were used to investigate the test-retest reliability of the TVMS-3. The correlations (Pearson's r) between the TVMS-3 accuracy score and the scores of each of the four domains and the adaptive behavior composite score of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (3rd ed.; Vineland-3) were calculated, respectively, to examine criterion-related validity and ecological validity.

RESULTS

The accuracy score of the TVMS-3 had excellent test-retest reliability and acceptable random measurement error. Moreover, it showed good criterion-related validity and sufficient ecological validity with the Vineland-3 in Taiwanese kindergarten children with DCD.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The accuracy score of the TVMS-3 is applicable to Taiwanese kindergarten children with DCD in clinical and research settings. Plain-Language Summary: The accuracy score of the Test of Visual-Motor Skills (3rd ed.; TVMS-3) is a useful assessment tool to detect deficits in visual-motor integration for Taiwanese kindergarten children with developmental coordination disorder. The TVMS-3 has excellent test-retest reliability, good criterion-related validity, and sufficient ecological validity.

Occupational performance and participation in children with developmental coordination disorders before and during Covid-19

INTRODUCTION

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children's occupational performance and participation. It is known that the Covid pandemic has adversely affected the whole world in many areas. We aim to investigate the occupational performance and participation of children with DCD before and during the COVID-19.

METHODS

Sixty-five children aged 5-12 years included in the study were assessed by the Canadian Measure of Occupational Performance and the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were detected in occupational performance and satisfaction scores (p < 0.01). Additionally, except for 'involvement in the home environment' (p > 0.05), there were statistically significant differences in all other areas of participation (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The occupational performance and participation of children with DCD are impacted during COVID-19. In addition, it is seen that the desire of families to change regarding participation has increased due to COVID-19. It would be beneficial to include strategies to improve these areas in the rehabilitation processes.

Anthropometric, physical activity, and psychological characteristics of Korean adults with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD)

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), also known as Dyspraxia, is characterized by movement difficulties in individuals without discernible neurological disorders or identifiable medical conditions. Previous studies from various countries have highlighted disparities in anthropometric, physical activity, and psychological characteristics between children diagnosed with DCD and their typically developing (TD) peers. These differences are influenced by sociocultural norms and geographical locations. However, little attention has been given to scrutinizing analogous differences in adult populations, particularly within Republic of Korea. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by employing a battery of questionnaires to assess anthropometric, physical activity, and psychological traits in a cohort of 377 Korean adults, encompassing those with DCD (n = 54) alongside TD counterparts (n = 323). It was hypothesized that Korean adults with DCD would exhibit higher body mass index and lower ratings in physical activity and psychological characteristics than TD, consistent with the previous studies performed in other countries on children. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the DCD and TD groups in anthropometric characteristics such as weight (kg), height (cm), and body mass index. The prevalence of walking and biking for daily commuting in daily routines within Korean society might have contributed to the mitigation of anthropometric among individuals with/without DCD. Statistically significant differences were found in physical activity levels at work and recreational settings, as shown in physical activity scores and duration. The DCD group also displayed lower scores across several psychological characteristics, including exercise adherence, intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, physical self-concept, exercise expectations, and intrinsic regulation. These findings underscore the necessity of incorporating sociocultural dynamics when investigating anthropometric, physical activity, and psychological characteristics in adults with DCD. Their perceived difficulties in fine motor skills were also significantly poor than TD. Future research studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving the observed patterns in this study, thus contributing to a more nuanced comprehension of how DCD manifests within specific sociocultural contexts.

Reduced Peak Bone Mass in Young Adults With Low Motor Competence

Although suboptimal bone health has been reported in children and adolescents with low motor competence (LMC), it is not known whether such deficits are present at the time of peak bone mass. We examined the impact of LMC on bone mineral density (BMD) in 1043 participants (484 females) from the Raine Cohort Study. Participants had motor competence assessed using the McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development at 10, 14, and 17 years, and a whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan at 20 years. Bone loading from physical activity was estimated from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire at the age of 17 years. The association between LMC and BMD was determined using general linear models that controlled for sex, age, body mass index, vitamin D status, and prior bone loading. Results indicated LMC status (present in 29.6% males and 21.9% females) was associated with a 1.8% to 2.6% decrease in BMD at all load-bearing bone sites. Assessment by sex showed that the association was mainly in males. Osteogenic potential of physical activity was associated with increased BMD dependent on sex and LMC status, with males with LMC showing a reduced effect from increasing bone loading. As such, although engagement in osteogenic physical activity is associated with BMD, other factors involved in physical activity, eg, diversity, movement quality, may also contribute to BMD differences based upon LMC status. The finding of lower peak bone mass for individuals with LMC may reflect a higher risk of osteoporosis, especially for males; however, further research is required. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Emotional distress and quality of life among adults with developmental coordination disorder during COVID-19

Introduction

Individuals with developmental coordination disorder frequently report emotional and functional difficulties. A stressful era as COVID-19 pandemic may enhance emotional load. The present study aimed to (1) examine the emotional distress and quality of life among adults with developmental coordination disorder during COVID-19 as compared to typical controls, and (2) examine the relationships between these factors in adults with developmental coordination disorder.

Method

Participants were 317 adults, aged 18-66, recruited during the first year of COVID-19: 227 were included in the developmental coordination disorder group, and 90 in the control group (normal motor performance) based on the Adult Developmental Co-ordination Disorders/Dyspraxia Checklist cutoff score. Participants completed a sociodemographic health status/daily life under COVID-19 questionnaire and self-reports about their emotional status (depression, anxiety, stress) and a quality of life.

Results

The developmental coordination disorder group had significantly greater depression, anxiety, stress, and lower quality of life. Participants with developmental coordination disorder who were infected by COVID-19 or reported reduction of working hours due to COVID-19 had the lowest social and environmental quality of life. Depression significantly predicted reduced quality of life and mediated between developmental coordination disorder severity and quality of life.

Conclusions

Prevention and intervention programs for adults with developmental coordination disorder should be elaborated, with reference to emotional load and to implications on daily life, especially in times of crisis, like COVID-19.

Sensory Modulation in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder Compared to Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is one of the least studied and understood developmental disorders. One area that has been minimally investigated in DCD is potential issues with sensory modulation. Further, in other neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder (ASD)) sensory modulation is related to many other challenges (e.g., social issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety); however, such potential relationships in children with DCD have been largely unexplored. The purpose of this study is to explore sensory modulation differences in DCD and to understand the relationships between sensory modulation and social emotional measures, behavior, and motor skills in DCD in comparison to ASD and typically developing (TD) peers. Participants (aged 8-17) and their caregivers (DCD, N = 26; ASD, N = 57; and TD, N = 53) completed behavioral and clinical measures. The results indicated that 31% of the DCD group showed sensory modulation difficulties, with the DCD group falling between the ASD and TD groups. In the DCD group, sensory modulation was significantly associated with anxiety, empathic concern, repetitive behaviors, and motor skills. Data are compared to patterns seen in ASD and TD groups and implications for interventions are discussed.

Motor performance, praxis, and social skills in autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder

Previous research has shown that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD) may have overlapping social and motor skill impairments. This study compares ASD, DCD, and typically developing (TD) youth on a range of social, praxis and motor skills, and investigates the relationship between these skills in each group. Data were collected on participants aged 8–17 (n = 33 ASD, n = 28 DCD, n = 35 TD). Overall, the clinical groups showed some similar patterns of social and motor impairments but diverged in praxis impairments, cognitive empathy, and Theory of Mind ability. When controlling for both social and motor performance impairments, the ASD group showed significantly lower accuracy on imitation of meaningful gestures and gesture to command, indicating a prominent deficit in these praxis skills in ASD.

Validity and reliability of the movement assessment battery second edition test in children with and without motor impairment: A prospective cohort study

Background

Examining the reliability and validity of the second edition movement assessment battery test (MABC-2) in children with and without motor impairment.

Materials and methods

In this prospective cohort study, the MABC-2 test and developmental coordination disorder questionnaire 2007 (DCDQ′07) were completed by children and their parents. By using 95% confidence intervals, minimal detectable change (MDC95) was calculated, and concurrent validity was investigated. By applying the MABC-2 test as a reference standard (cut-off fifth centile), sensitivity and specificity were examined.

Results

273 children (mean age: 6.3 ± 2.3 years; 70% male) with and without motor impairment completed the investigation. For test-retest reliability, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) was >0.89 for the MABC-2 test. The MDC95 value for the motor skill test was 5.76. There was a significant correlation between the MABC-2 test and DCDQ′07 (r = 0.60, P < 0.001) and the Go/No-Go test (r = 0.50, P < 0.001). Overall, the sensitivity was very high (90%), the specificity was low (46%), and positive and negative predictive values were high (69% and 81%, respectively).

Conclusion

The MABC-2 test can be considered a valid and reliable motor skill assessment tool for children with and without motor impairment.

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The MABC-2 test is a valid tool for children with and without motor impairment.

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The MABC-2 test is a reliable tool for children with and without motor impairment.

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The MABC-2 is a sensitive tool for detecting motor skill performance impairments.

Benefits of an Intensive Individual CO-OP Intervention in a Group Setting for Children with DCD

Purpose

The present study focused on the impact of an adapted Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) five-day intervention program for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Important adaptations were the new combination of individual CO-OP sessions and group activities, the short and intensive program that was followed by a training and coaching trajectory, and the use of video logs.

Materials and Methods

Eighteen children with DCD (aged 8-16 years) participated in the five-day intervention during which they worked on three intervention goals. After the intervention, during an eight-week training and coaching trajectory for parents and children, children worked on a transfer goal. Assessment took place at four moments in time: two pretest measures, a posttest measure, and a 3-month follow-up measure. Primary outcome measures focused on changes in performance and satisfaction of self-chosen intervention and transfer goals. The secondary outcome measure explored changes in children's attitude, motivation, and confidence in relation to motor skill activities, social skills, and level of participation.

Results

Significant improvements were found with regard to the performance and satisfaction of intervention goals. For the transfer goal, only parents reported significant improvements. Finally, parents indicated potential improvements with regard to the attitude, motivation, and confidence of their children, but not for their social skills or level of participation.

Conclusion

The findings are promising with regard to the efficacy of this adapted CO-OP intervention for improving intervention goals, but less effective for transfer of learned skills to other goals after the intervention. Future research should focus on how postintervention parental coaching can be improved in order to increase generalization and transfer.

Effect of Childhood Developmental Coordination Disorder on Adulthood Physical Activity; Arvo Ylppö Longitudinal Study

Individuals at risk of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have low levels of physical activity in childhood due to impaired motor competence; however, physical activity levels in adulthood have not been established. This study sought to determine the impact of DCD risk on physical activity levels in adults using accelerometry measurement. Participants (n = 656) from the Arvo Ylppö Longitudinal Study cohort had their motor competence assessed at the age of five years, and their physical activity quantified via device assessment at the age of 25 years. Between group differences were assessed to differentiate physical activity measures for individuals based on DCD risk status, with general linear modeling performed to control for the effects of sex, body mass index (BMI), and maternal education. Participants at risk of DCD were found to have a lower total number of steps (d = 0.3, p = 0.022) than those not at risk. Statistical modeling indicated that DCD risk status increased time spent in sedentary light activity (β = 0.1, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.3, p = 0.026) and decreased time spent in vigorous physical activity via interaction with BMI (β = 0.04, 95% CI 0.001 to 0.1, p = 0.025). Sensitivity analysis found that visuomotor impairment did not significantly impact physical activity but did increase the role of DCD risk status in some models. This 20‐year‐longitudinal study indicated that DCD risk status continues to negatively impact on levels of physical activity into early adulthood.

Relationship between the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire 2007 and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition in Korean Children

This study investigated the relationship between the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire 2007 (DCDQ’07) and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition (BOT-2) in Korea. This study also adjusted the cutoff score of the DCDQ’07 based on the BOT-2 for Korean children. A total of 256 children were recruited from communities in Korea. They were divided into two age groups: 8 to 9 years old and 10 to 12 years old. Children performed the BOT-2, and their parents completed the DCDQ’07. The correlation between the DCDQ’07 and the BOT-2 was analyzed. The adjusted DCDQ’07 cutoff score for Korean children was calculated using the BOT-2 as the criterion through a receiver operating characteristic curve. A significant correlation between the DCDQ’07 and the BOT-2 was found, indicating that Korean parents’ perception of children’s motor skills was related to their children’s actual motor proficiency. The adjusted cutoff score of the DCDQ’07 had a sensitivity of 72.7–85.7% and a specificity of 62.5–64.0%. This study demonstrated that children’s motor skills reported by Korean parents on the DCDQ’07 were valid based on a community sample. The adjusted cutoff score of the DCDQ’07 could be used to identify children suspected of having a developmental coordination disorder.

Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of a 1-Week Vestibular Rehabilitation Day Camp in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

AIM

This pilot study investigated the feasibility and preliminary effects of an intensive 1-week day camp program for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) that focused on vestibular rehabilitation.

METHODS

Ten participants (6-10 years) were assessed twice pre-intervention, post intervention, and at 8-week follow-up. Videonystagmography, Video Head Impulse Tests (vHIT), and Modified Emory Clinical Vestibular Chair Test (m-ECVCT) test were assessed at baseline. Outcomes measures were gaze stability (Dynamic Visual Acuity; DVA), functional gait (Functional Gait Assessment; FGA), balance (Sensory Organization Test), motor function (Bruininks-Oseretsky Test), and participation (Miller Function and Participation).

RESULTS

No abnormal results were detected from the videonystagmography, vHIT and m-ECVCT. There was a 100% attendance rate at the camp and assessment sessions. FGA scores significantly improved following intervention and changes were maintained at follow-up. The number of children with abnormal DVA scores decreased from 3 to 1 to 0 between pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up. There were no significant changes in any of the other outcomes following intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Intensive vestibular rehabilitation delivered in a day camp format is feasible and show positive preliminary effects on functional gait and dynamic visual acuity in children with DCD.

Social skills of kindergarten children with Global Developmental Delay (GDD), with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

AIM

A high prevalence of co-occurring Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) has been noted in the population of children with global developmental delays (GDD). The presence of developmental disabilities in general, and DCD in particular, constitute a risk factor for difficulties in social skills. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies, have examined the unique contribution of DCD to social skills, over and above the effect of other general developmental impairments. The aim of this study was to compare the social skills of kindergarten children with Global Developmental Delay, with and without DCD.

METHODS

Participants included 26 kindergarten children with Global Developmental Delay and DCD (Mage = 4.92, 61 % boys), and 26 children with Global Developmental Delay without DCD (Mage = 5.09, 69.25 % boys). All participants' parents and kindergarten teachers completed the Social Skills Improvement System Questionnaire (SSIS).

RESULTS

Children with GDD only performed significantly better on social skills compared to children with GDD and DCD. Parents in general reported better social skills and less behavioral problems compared to kindergarten teachers.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings contribute to the accumulating body of knowledge regarding social abilities of children with developmental disabilities and present new information as to the unique effect of DCD in this domain. Routine evaluation of social skills should be conducted among children with GDD and DCD, taking into account the negative influence that motor dysfunction has in this domain. Furthermore, children's social performance in different environments needs to be considered by relating to both parents and kindergarten teachers' perspective. Subsequent intervention programs should then address the unique profile of this population.

Experiences of adult siblings of those with developmental coordination disorder (DCD): a qualitative study

This qualitative study explored the childhood experiences of growing up with a sibling with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) to offer an ‘outsider’s’ view of this condition. Ten individuals who had grown up with a sibling with DCD were interviewed about their experiences. Data were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Analysis described three main themes: i)‘witnessing the challenges for their sibling with DCD’ ii) ‘experiencing the impact on the family’; iii) ‘a vacuum of knowledge’. Not all experiences were negative and transcending these themes was the notion ‘resolution and finding benefit’ highlighting access to support, being more empathic and resilient, becoming a role model for others and finding success. Participants play witness to their sibling’s experiences which can often be negative sometimes impacted by a vacuum of knowledge but they also describe how a diagnosis of DCD comes with some benefits which are discussed in the context of ‘posttraumatic growth’.

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.

Systematic Review of Visual Motor Integration in Children with Developmental Disabilities

Original research articles regarding visual motor integration skills in children with developmental disabilities and the impact of occupational therapy were identified, appraised, and synthesized. Twenty-four articles were chosen for this review. Themes were noted during the critique of articles. Three themes emerged: "age," "gender," and "diagnosis." Regarding the impact on visual motor integration, there was strong evidence for age, moderate evidence for gender, and strong evidence for diagnosis. Future research investigating visual motor integration in children should control for age and diagnosis.

Early intervention for children with/at risk of developmental coordination disorder: a scoping review

AIM

To summarize current evidence for early identification and motor-based intervention for children aged 5 years and younger of age with/at risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD).

METHOD

Using scoping review methodology, we independently screened over 11 000 articles and selected those that met inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Of the 103 included articles, 78 articles were related to early identification and are summarized in a companion article. Twenty-two articles focused on early intervention, with an additional three articles covering both early identification and intervention. Most intervention studies were at a low level of evidence, but provide encouraging evidence that early intervention is beneficial for young children with/at risk of DCD. Direct intervention can be provided to whole classes, small groups, or individuals according to a tiers of service delivery model. Educating and building the capacity of parents and early childhood educators are also key elements of early intervention.

INTERPRETATION

Evidence for early intervention for children with/at risk of DCD is emerging with promising results. Further studies are needed to determine best practice for early intervention and whether intervening early can prevent the negative developmental trajectory and secondary psychosocial consequences associated with DCD.

Elementary visuospatial perception deficit in children with neurodevelopmental disorders

AIM

To assess the prevalence of elementary visuospatial perception (EVSP) deficit in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

METHOD

Using a screening test designed and validated to measure dorsal EVSP ability, 168 children (122 males, 46 females; mean age 10y [SD 1y 10mo], range 4y 8mo-16y 4mo) diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), specific learning disorder (SLD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and/or oral language disorder were compared with a group of 184 typically developing children. We also tested 14 children with binocular vision dysfunction and no neurodevelopmental disorder.

RESULTS

Children with SLD scored below the interquartile range of typically developing children as frequently (59%) as children with DCD, but only 5% were severely impaired (i.e. scored as outliers). Children with DCD were the most severely impaired (22% of outliers), even more so when they exhibited a co-occuring disorder. Children with language disorder and those with binocular vision dysfunction scored similarly to the group of typically developing children.

INTERPRETATION

These results confirm the importance of assessing EVSP in the clinical evaluation of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, in particular those presenting with DCD or SLD. What this paper adds More than half of children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) scored below the normal interquartile range on the elementary visuospatial perception (EVSP) test. More than half of children with specific learning disorder (SLD) scored below the normal interquartile range on the EVSP test. Twenty-two percent of children with DCD performed as outliers on the EVSP test. Children with language disorder and those with binocular vision dysfunction scored similarly to typically developing children.

Participation of young children with developmental disabilities: parental needs and strategies, a qualitative thematic analysis

OBJECTIVES

Participation refers to a person's involvement in activities and roles that provide interaction with others as well as engagement in family and community activities. Young children with developmental disabilities (DD) such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder, autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder are limited in their participation compared with their typically developing peers. This study aimed to obtain information regarding parental needs and strategies used to enable their child's participation.

DESIGN

A thematic inductive approach with in-depth interviews was used to explore parental experiences. Eleven women and two men, between 30 and 40 years of age, who had a child (4-9 years old) with a DD diagnosis based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria, participated in semistructured interviews.

RESULTS

Two central themes emerged: parental needs and parental strategies used to enable their child's participation. Parental needs were the following: increasing awareness, ameliorating parental burden, providing tailored interventions and supporting parents in finding suitable leisure activities. Parental strategies aimed at increasing their child's resiliency, attaining maximal fit between activity requirements and child capacity, and creating inclusive opportunities and awareness.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding what families' needs are and how families use and integrate strategies within the context of their daily lives provides practitioners with insights needed to support families' resiliency in promoting their children's participation. The results have implications for professionals as this information can be used to inform, refine, or tailor participation-based and family-centred services.

Children and young people's experiences of living with developmental coordination disorder/dyspraxia: A systematic review and meta-ethnography of qualitative research

Background

To date services for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have not been informed by the perspective of children with DCD. This study aimed to synthesise the findings of discrete qualitative studies reporting the lived experiences views and preferences of children and young with DCD using a meta-ethnographic approach to develop new conceptual understandings.

Methods

A systematic search of ten databases; Academic Search Complete, AMED, CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE, PsychArticles, PsychInfo, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science, was conducted between March and April 2019, and updated in early June 2020. Meta-ethnography, following the method described by Noblit and Hare was used to synthesise included studies. The Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist was used to appraise all included papers. PROSPERO registration number CRD42019129178.

Results

Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-ethnographic synthesis produced three themes; a) ‘It’s harder than it should be’: Navigating daily activities b) Fitting in, and c) ‘So what? I drop things’: Strategies and supports to mitigate challenges. Children with DCD describe a mismatch between their abilities and performance norms for daily activities that led to a cascade of negative consequences including negative self-appraisal, bullying and exclusion. In the face of these difficulties children described creative and successful strategies they enacted and supports they accessed including; assistance from others (parents, friends and teachers), focusing on their strengths and talents, accepting and embracing their difference, adopting a “just do it” attitude, setting personal goals, self-exclusion from some social activities, using humour or sarcasm, viewing performance expectations as a social construct, and enjoying friendships as a forum for fun, acceptance and protection against exclusion.

Conclusion

Service provision for children and young people with DCD should address the social and attitudinal environments, focus on friendship and social inclusion and address stigma-based bullying particularly within the school environment. Furthermore, practitioners should identify and foster children’s own strategies for navigating daily life activities with DCD. The identified themes resonate with contemporary disability theory and the International Classification of Functioning. The social and attitudinal environmental context of children and young people with DCD profoundly influences their experiences. Future intervention development and service provision for children and young people with DCD should consider opportunities to address social and attitudinal environmental factors.

Differences in walking and running gait in children with and without developmental coordination disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a common motor skills disorder in children. Although gait changes are often reported clinically, affecting children's participation in play and sport, there has been no synthesis of research evidence comparing gait of children with and without DCD. Thus, the aim of this research was to determine differences in gait between children with and without DCD METHODS: A search of electronic databases (AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, SPORTDiscus, & Web of Science) was conducted from inception to August 2019 for studies comparing walking and/or running gait of children with and without DCD. The McMaster Critical Appraisal Form for Quantitative Studies was used to assess risk of bias amongst included studies. Meta-analysis was completed on measures with four or more homogenous outcomes.

RESULTS

20 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were eligible for review - three of which were pre-post designs, and 17 were cross-sectional designs. Data was extracted in five domains: kinetics, kinematics, physical function, electromyography, and temporospatial parameters. Meta-analysis was performed on one outcome measure - the 6 min Walk Test (6MWT), finding that children with DCD walked significantly shorter distances, indicating reduced endurance in walking gait. Other statistically significant results all favoured typically developing children, however there is little consistency between studies.

CONCLUSION

Although a clear gait pattern for children with DCD is not evident, functional deficits appear to be present in endurance and cardiorespiratory fitness. The current evidence base for gait changes in DCD is currently low-level, and further high quality research is warranted.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018106791.

The Instructional Sensitivity of the Test of Gross Motor Development-3 to Detect Changes in Performance for Young Children With and Without Down Syndrome

The Test of Gross Motor Development is among the most commonly used measures of gross motor competency in children. An important attribute of any developmental assessment is its sensitivity to detect change. The purpose of this study was to examine the instructional sensitivity of the Test of Gross Motor Development-third edition (TGMD-3) performance criteria to changes in performance for 48 children (age 4-7 years) with and without Down syndrome following 10 weeks of physical education. Paired t tests identified significant improvements for all children on locomotor (p < .01) and ball skills (p < .01). These significant differences were associated with moderate to large effect sizes. SEM was low relative to the maximum raw score for each subtest, indicating high confidence in the scores. These findings provide evidence that the TGMD-3 is sensitive to change in performance for children with and without Down syndrome.

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.

The synergistic effect of poor motor coordination, gender and age on self-concept in children: A longitudinal analysis

BACKGROUND

Self-concept is a critical psychosocial outcome in childhood that is shaped by many factors. Gender, motor coordination and age have been identified as three important contributors.

AIM

The present study examined whether poor motor coordination (i.e., being classified as at risk for Developmental Coordination Disorder [rDCD]), gender and age have a synergistic effect on domains of self-concept and self-worth in children.

METHODS

Data were derived from the Physical Health and Activity Study Team longitudinal open cohort project. Children enrolled in grade 4 (M_age = 9.88 ± 0.35) at baseline (n = 1978) completed the Self-Perception Profile for Children 7 times over 4 years to evaluate their competence across multiple domains. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency - Short Form was completed once to evaluate children's motor coordination. Participants scoring ≤15th percentile were classified as rDCD.

RESULTS

A significant 3-way interaction between rDCD, gender and age was observed for athletic ability, physical appearance and academic competence, but not social competence, behavioural conduct or global self-worth. Findings revealed developmental trajectories for self-perceptions of athletic ability, physical appearance, and academic competence were lowest among rDCD girls. Boys classified as rDCD also demonstrated lower athletic, academic and physical self-perceptions in comparison to typically developing children.

CONCLUSIONS

Age intensifies disparities in self held athletic, physical and academic perceptions attributable to differences in gender and rDCD status, however, differences in these domains appear to be independent of children's overall views of themselves.

Dance PREEMIE, a Dance PaRticipation intervention for Extremely prEterm children with Motor Impairment at prEschool age: an Australian feasibility trial protocol

INTRODUCTION

Children born extremely preterm (EP: <28 weeks gestation) and/or extremely low birth weight (ELBW: <1000 g) are at increased risk of motor impairment compared with children born at term. Children with motor impairment have lower rates of physical activity (PA) participation compared with their typically developing peers. PA participation is an important outcome for children with motor impairment, however, there is limited evidence available to support interventions that improve PA participation in this population. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility, including the recruitment and retention, acceptability and fidelity, of a preschool dance participation intervention for children born EP/EBLW with motor impairment called Dance PaRticipation intervention for Extremely prEterm children with Motor Impairment at prEschool age.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This feasibility case series trial will recruit EP/ELBW children with motor impairment (n=10) from the Victorian Infant Collaborative Study 2016/2017 cohort, a prospective longitudinal cohort study. Up to 10 community-based dance teachers will be recruited and provided with physiotherapy-led training and support to facilitate the participation of EP/ELBW children in community dance classes. A mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative) will be used to analyse the primary aim, to determine the feasibility of the intervention from the perspectives of families and dance teachers.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study is approved by the Human Research Ethics Committees of The Royal Children's Hospital and The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne. Study outcomes will be disseminated through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications and social media.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12619001266156.

Developmental coordination disorder

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children's ability to execute coordinated motor actions, resulting in slow, clumsy, or inaccurate motor performances and learning difficulties (of new motor tasks or to adapt previously learned gestures to a modified or additional constraint). In the course of development, children with DCD exhibit a diversity of motor signs, including fine and gross motor problems with impaired postural control and balance, and sensorimotor coordination or motor learning difficulties. The prevalence ranges between 1.8% and 8%, depending on the diagnostic criteria used, based on the cutoff of motor scores from standardized scales. Four main hypotheses have been postulated to explain DCD in terms of deficits in visuospatial functions, procedural learning, internal modeling, or executive functions. Neuroimaging studies are scarce but have highlighted several brain regions, including the parietal, frontal, and cerebellar cortices. Meta-analyses have supported task-oriented approaches as effective therapies to improve motor performance in children with DCD.

Determining the clinical knowledge and practice of Australian podiatrists on children with developmental coordination disorder: a cross-sectional survey

Background

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a common condition in children affecting motor coordination. This impacts on academic performance, and activities of daily living. Literature surrounding interventions for DCD has focused mostly on physical and occupational therapies. However, it is known that children with DCD present to podiatrists as these children often also have abnormalities in lower limb functioning associated with the condition. This study aimed to determine current knowledge of Australian podiatrists regarding presentation, assessment, and management of children with developmental coordination disorder.

Methods

A single-round survey, developed using SurveyMonkey®, was completed by a sample of Australian podiatrists. Data were collected through either online or paper means. Participants were asked about their familiarity with DCD and depending on their response, were directed via skip logic to questions on presentation, assessment and management strategies of DCD in children. Participants were also asked about their willingness and preferences for further education on DCD. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data.

Results

There were 365 Australian podiatrists who completed the survey. There were 30% (n = 109) who reported being familiar with DCD as a diagnosis, while a further 37% (n = 134) reported familiarity with alternate or outdated terminology associated with the DCD diagnosis. Participants who were familiar with DCD or terminology relating to DCD, showed good knowledge of signs and symptoms associated with DCD. Both familiar and unfamiliar participants favoured referral to other health professionals over completing assessments. Common podiatric management strategies such as footwear advice, orthoses, and strength training were the most frequently chosen by both groups, despite current evidence only supporting strength training as an intervention. Participants were willing to receive education on DCD through a range of both online and in-person mediums.

Conclusion

The majority of Australian podiatrists were unfamiliar with DCD, despite its prevalence and symptomology falling within the podiatric scope. However, participants did overwhelmingly show willingness to receive further education on DCD. Further research should consider understanding the role of podiatrists in the assessment and management of children with DCD and the impact of the type of treatment strategies that may be provided.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13047-019-0353-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Subthreshold Vibrotactile Noise Stimulation Immediately Improves Manual Dexterity in a Child With Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Single-Case Study

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is the most common childhood movement disorder. It is characterized by clumsiness of fine and gross motor skills in developing children. Children with DCD have low ability to effectively use tactile information for movements, instead relying on visual information. In addition, children with DCD have deficits in visuo-motor temporal integration, which is important in motor control. These traits subsequently lead to clumsiness of movements. Conversely, however, imperceptible vibrotactile noise stimulation (at 60%-intensity of the sensory threshold) to the wrist provides stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon to the body, improving the sensory and motor systems. However, the effects of SR have not yet been validated in children with DCD. Thus, we conducted a single case study of a 10-year-old boy with a diagnosis of DCD to investigate the effect of SR on visual dependence, visuo-motor temporal integration, and manual dexterity. SR was provided by vibrotactile noise stimulation (at an intensity of 60% of the sensory threshold) to the wrist. Changes in manual dexterity (during the SR on- and off-conditions) were measured using the manual dexterity test of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd edition. The point of subjective equality measured by visual or tactile temporal order judgment task served as a quantitative indicator reflecting specific sensory dependence. The delay detection threshold and steepness of delay detection probability curve, which were measured using the delayed visual feedback detection task, were used as quantitative indicators of visuo-motor temporal integration. The results demonstrated alleviated visual dependence and improved visuo-motor temporal integration during the SR on-conditions rather than the SR off-conditions. Most importantly, manual dexterity during the SR on-conditions was significantly improved compared to that during the SR off-conditions. Thus, the present results highlighted that SR could contribute to improving poor movement in children with DCD. However, since this was a single case study, a future interventional study with a large sample size is needed to determine the effectiveness of SR for children with DCD.

The Interdependence of Motor and Social Skill Development: Influence on Participation

Participation is a major outcome area for physical therapists serving young children with disabilities. Contemporary models of disability such as the International Classification of Function, developmental theories such as the system perspective, and evidence-based early childhood practices recognize the interdependence of developmental domains, and suggest that change in 1 area of development influences change in another. Physical therapy provided in naturally occurring activities and routines, considered the preferred service delivery method, promotes participation of young children with disabilities. Research indicates that: (1) children develop skills, become independent, and form relationships through participation; and (2) with developing skills, children can increasingly participate. The purpose of this Perspective article is to synthesize the literature examining the relationship between motor skill development and the social interaction dimension of participation in young children. Current research examining the influence of motor skill development on social interactions in children with autism spectrum disorder will be discussed, exemplifying the interdependence of developmental domains. Implications for physical therapist practice and recommendations for future research are provided.

A school-based physical activity intervention for children with developmental coordination disorder: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) have lower physical activity (PA) than children with typical development (TD). PA and fundamental movement skills (FMS) are positively associated so interventions that promote FMS of children with DCD are recommended.

AIM

To examine the effects of a school-based FMS training program on motor functions, PA and other psychological outcomes.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

A total of 131 primary children were allocated to FMS training groups (DCD-FMS n = 35, TD-FMS n = 29), which received FMS training (eight weekly 40-min sessions), or to control groups (DCD-C n = 34, TD-C n = 33), which received conventional physical education lessons. Outcome measures, including accelerometer-assessed PA, motor functions, and self-perceived competence and enjoyment, were measured at baseline, 1-week (immediate effect), 3-months (short-term effect) and 12-months (longer-term effect) after the intervention.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

FMS training resulted in improved FMS proficiency and increased PA and enjoyment of activity participation in children. In particular, the DCD-FMS group reported greater enjoyment over time. Some effects were also evident for both short- and longer-term.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The findings suggest that a school-based FMS training program has the potential to promote physical and psychological health in children with DCD in the long run.

Psychometric assessment of the French European Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ-FE)

BACKGROUND

The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire'07 (DCDQ'07) is a parent-report measure to identify children at risk for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). We developed a French version of the DCDQ'07 (DCDQ-FE) that has shown excellent inter-language reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.91) and is culturally relevant for use in European countries. The aims of this study were to examine the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire-French European (DCDQ-FE), as well as establish a cut-off score.

METHODS

The psychometric properties of the DCDQ-FE were examined with a clinical group of 30 children (mean age: 9.4 years, SD = 2.6) and a control group of 43 children (mean age: 9.1 years, SD = 2.4). Their parents (n = 73) filled out the DCDQ-FE at a first sitting and 70 of them filled it out 38 days later in average for test-retest reliability. The children were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) so as to measure the convergent validity of the DCDQ-FE. The cut-off score was determined with an additional sample of 42 children according to scores on the MABC-2 (≥ 16th percentile) (n = 115).

RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS

Internal consistency of the DCDQ-FE was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96) and test-retest reliability was good (ICC = 0.956) with no differences between scores obtained at the two sittings (p > 0.05). Differences in scores between children in the clinical and control groups (Z = -6.58, p < 0.001) provide evidence of construct validity. The correlation obtained between DCDQ-FE and MABC-2 scores (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient = 0.802, p < 0.001) supports convergent validity. Using a cut-off of 56, overall sensitivity and specificity were 85.0% and 81.6% respectively (area under the curve = 0.896). The DCDQ-FE is a reliable and valid questionnaire for detecting children who are at risk for DCD in a European-French population of children aged 5 to 15 years old.

Sensory modulation, physical activity and participation in daily occupations in young children

BACKGROUND.

Physical activity (PA) promotes children's health. While sensory processing is integral to motor output, research regarding PA in children with sensory processing challenges is sparse.

PURPOSE.

This study aimed to examine the PA pattern and its association with daily life participation of children with sensory processing challenges.

METHOD.

Forty-four children ages 5 to 7 years were divided into the study group (children with sensory processing challenges; n = 22; 16 males) and an age-matched typically developing control group ( n = 22; nine males). Parents completed the Short Sensory Profile, a demographic questionnaire, Participation in Childhood Occupations Questionnaire, and Participation in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire-Modified. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlational analysis.

FINDINGS.

Structured PA was reported in 45% and 77% of the study and control groups, respectively ( p = .030). In the study group, the level of participation in PA was found to be significantly correlated with play and leisure activities.

IMPLICATIONS.

Promoting structured and group PA opportunities may be important for children with sensory processing challenges.

Graphical Product Quality and Muscle Activity in Children With Mild Disabilities Drawing on a Horizontally or Vertically Oriented Tablet

OBJECTIVE

We compared performance level and muscle activity patterns during shape copying and tracing in two positions, while sitting at a desk and while standing in front of a wall, between typically developing (TD) preschool children and children with mild disabilities (MD).

METHOD

Twenty-two TD children (8 boys, 14 girls; mean [M] age = 5.2 yr, standard deviation [SD] = 0.1) and 13 children with MD (9 boys, 4 girls; M age = 4.9 yr, SD = 0.5) participated in this study.

RESULTS

The children performed faster and smoother movements when copying shapes on the vertical surface, with no reduction of accuracy, than on the horizontal surface. Children with MD exerted their upper trapezius while performing the short tasks on the vertical surface compared with their muscle activity on the horizontal surface.

CONCLUSION

Incorporating short copying or drawing tasks on a vertical surface may increase the control of proximal muscles and ease graphomotor performance in children with MD.

Health-related quality of life of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

BACKGROUND

Although Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is primarily a motor disorder, it can also impact emotional and psychosocial functioning of children with this condition. Evidence suggests that children with DCD experience lower quality of life than their peers, but few studies have explicitly examined the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of these children.

AIMS

To: (1) describe HRQOL of children with DCD compared to typically-developing children; (2) compare HRQOL from the perspectives of children with DCD and their parents; and (3) explore predictors of HRQOL for children with DCD.

METHODS

Data from the KidScreen-52 and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire were collected from 50 children with DCD [Mean(SD) age: 9.8 (1.2) years] and their parents and compared to normative data.

RESULTS

Children with DCD and their parents report significantly lower HRQOL compared to published norms. Caregivers have a significantly lower perception of their child's HRQOL than their child's self-report in many domains. Parents of children with DCD report that their children experience significantly more emotional and behavioral disturbances compared to norms. Poor motor function and attentional difficulties predict HRQOL.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

DCD appears to contribute to lower perceived HRQOL. Findings inform therapeutic targets for children with DCD, beyond motor skill intervention.

Motor coordination problems and psychological distress in young adults: A test of the Environmental Stress Hypothesis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The Environmental Stress Hypothesis (ESH) has been used to examine how the relationship between poor motor coordination and psychological distress is affected by physical health and psychosocial factors. However, work applying the ESH is still limited, and no studies have used this framework with adults. The current investigation aims to examine the association between motor coordination and psychological distress among emerging adults, and examine potential mediators to this relationship based on the ESH.

METHODS

225 young adults aged 17-23 years completed a survey of motor coordination, physical activity, secondary stressors (i.e., general stress and global relationships), perceived social support, self-concept, and psychological distress. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine mediating pathways and overall model fit.

RESULTS

The final model of the ESH showed good model fit (x² = 83.24, p < .01; RMSEA=0.056; NNFI = 0.927; CFI = 0.954; GFI = 0.947), and indicated that the relationship between poor motor coordination and psychological distress was mediated by secondary stressors, perceived social support, and self-concept.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the effect of poor motor coordination on psychological distress in young adults, and suggests that interventions should target psychosocial well-being, in addition to motor coordination, to prevent psychological distress.

Participation of children with developmental coordination disorder

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) participate less frequently and in less diverse activities compared to typically-developing children. Participation restrictions have been attributed to poor motor skills, but no studies have examined the influence of the environment on participation of children with DCD. This study examined participation in children with DCD at home, school and in the community, considering both personal and environmental factors. Eighty-one parents of 4- to 12-year-old children with DCD (M = 8.3, SD = 2.1) completed the Participation and Environment Measure-Child and Youth (PEM-CY). Our data were compared to previously published data on typically-developing children. Children with DCD participated less frequently than typically-developing children in school and community settings and had less overall environmental support in all three settings. Regarding improvement in participation, children with DCD would benefit from motor interventions that also focus on modification of the environment to support their participation in home, school, and community settings.

Does stereopsis account for the link between motor and social skills in adults?

Background

Experimental and longitudinal evidence suggests that motor proficiency plays an important role in the development of social skills. However, stereopsis, or depth perception, may also play a fundamental role in social skill development either indirectly through its impact on motor skills or through a more direct route. To date, no systematic study has investigated the relationship between social skills and motor ability in the general adult population, and whether poor stereopsis may contribute to this association. This has implications for clinical populations since research has shown associations between motor abnormalities and social skills, as well as reduced depth perception in autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder.

Methods

Six hundred fifty adults completed three validated questionnaires, the stereopsis screening inventory, the Adult Developmental Coordination Disorder Checklist, and the Autism Spectrum Quotient.

Results

An exploratory factor analysis on pooled items across all measures revealed 10 factors that were largely composed of items from a single scale, indicating that any co-occurrence of poor stereopsis, reduced motor proficiency, and difficulties with social interaction cannot be attributed to a single underlying mechanism. Correlations between extracted factor scores found associations between motor skill and social skill.

Conclusions

Mediation analyses suggested that whilst fine motor skill and coordination explained the relationship between stereopsis and social skill to some extent, stereopsis nonetheless exerted a substantial direct effect upon social skill. This is the first study to demonstrate that the functional significance of stereopsis is not limited to motor ability and may directly impact upon social functioning.

Deficits in Visuo-Motor Temporal Integration Impacts Manual Dexterity in Probable Developmental Coordination Disorder

The neurological basis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is thought to be deficits in the internal model and mirror-neuron system (MNS) in the parietal lobe and cerebellum. However, it is not clear if the visuo-motor temporal integration in the internal model and automatic-imitation function in the MNS differs between children with DCD and those with typical development (TD). The current study aimed to investigate these differences. Using the manual dexterity test of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (second edition), the participants were either assigned to the probable DCD (pDCD) group or TD group. The former was comprised of 29 children with clumsy manual dexterity, while the latter consisted of 42 children with normal manual dexterity. Visuo-motor temporal integration ability and automatic-imitation function were measured using the delayed visual feedback detection task and motor interference task, respectively. Further, the current study investigated whether autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) traits, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits, and depressive symptoms differed among the two groups, since these symptoms are frequent comorbidities of DCD. In addition, correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to extract factors affecting clumsy manual dexterity. In the results, the delay-detection threshold (DDT) and steepness of the delay-detection probability curve, which indicated visuo-motor temporal integration ability, were significantly prolonged and decreased, respectively, in children with pDCD. The interference effect, which indicated automatic-imitation function, was also significantly reduced in this group. These results highlighted that children with clumsy manual dexterity have deficits in visuo-motor temporal integration and automatic-imitation function. There was a significant correlation between manual dexterity, and measures of visuo-motor temporal integration, and ASD traits and ADHD traits and ASD. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the DDT, which indicated visuo-motor temporal integration, was the greatest predictor of poor manual dexterity. The current results supported and provided further evidence for the internal model deficit hypothesis. Further, they suggested a neurorehabilitation technique that improved visuo-motor temporal integration could be therapeutically effective for children with DCD.

Understanding Organisational Ability and Self-Regulation in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

This paper examines physical and emotional coherence in young people with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Specifically, the transactional relationship between motor and non-motor/executive dysfunction in children with DCD and its impact on psychosocial functioning is explored.

RECENT FINDINGS

This paper integrates the subjective reported experiences of young people with DCD with objective measurements and findings from neuroimaging studies.

SUMMARY

Consideration of the transactional relationship between the person, the activity and the environment, whether these factors be physical, social, attitudinal or virtual, will be fundamental to our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning organisational and emotional issues presenting in DCD. Integrating the experiences of young people with research evidence will be essential to improve outcomes for young people with DCD in clinical practice.

The efficacy of two activity-based interventions in adolescents with Developmental Coordination Disorder

BACKGROUND

Adolescents with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) usually experience psychomotor difficulties that affect their participation in everyday tasks and sports. Without effective intervention, adolescents show persistent motor deficits through adulthood. It is therefore critical to develop interventions to address the specific needs of this population. Studies evaluating the impact of motor interventions among adolescents with DCD are limited.

AIM

The study evaluated the efficacy of two activity-based motor interventions in female adolescents with DCD.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Forty-three female participants (Mean±SD: 14.3±1.1years) were identified as having DCD using the DSM-5 criteria. They were randomly assigned to either Task-oriented Functional Training (TFT) or Wii training. Both groups received 45min training per week for 14 weeks. Outcome measures included isometric muscular strength, motor proficiency, functional performance and participation in activities of daily living (ADL).

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

At the conclusion of the intervention, the two groups had significant improvement in muscular strength, motor proficiency, running and agility, predilection for physical activity and generalized self-efficacy. However, there was no difference in outcomes for the two interventions.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The findings highlight the potential benefits of activity-based motor interventions in reducing impairments, improving functional performance, and enhancing participation. These results support previous findings on the efficacy of task-oriented interventions and demonstrate the value of these approaches at all levels of functioning.

Developmental coordination disorders and sensory processing and integration: Incidence, associations and co-morbidities

INTRODUCTION

Children with developmental coordination disorder or sensory processing and integration difficulties face challenges to participation in daily living. To date there has been no exploration of the co-occurrence of developmental coordination disorders and sensory processing and integration difficulties.

METHOD

Records of children meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - V criteria for developmental coordination disorder (n = 93) age 5 to 12 years were examined. Data on motor skills (Movement Assessment Battery for Children - 2) and sensory processing and integration (Sensory Processing Measure) were interrogated.

RESULTS

Of the total sample, 88% exhibited some or definite differences in sensory processing and integration. No apparent relationship was observed between motor coordination and sensory processing and integration. The full sample showed high rates of some difficulties in social participation, hearing, body awareness, balance and motion, and planning and ideation. Further, children with co-morbid autistic spectrum disorder showed high rates of difficulties with touch and vision.

CONCLUSION

Most, but not all, children with developmental coordination disorder presented with some difficulties in sensory processing and integration that impacted on their participation in everyday activities. Sensory processing and integration difficulties differed significantly between those with and without co-morbid autistic spectrum disorder.

Intervention and management of developmental coordination disorder: Are we providing evidence-based services?

Background.

Occupational therapists are well positioned to provide intervention to improve outcomes for children with developmental coordination disorder. However, little is known about what occupational therapy services are provided for these children.

Purpose.

As part of a larger study exploring service provision for children with developmental coordination disorder, the purpose of this study was to examine intervention and referral practices of occupational therapists in British Columbia, Canada.

Method.

An online survey was e-mailed to a convenience and snowball sample of paediatric occupational therapists, with 165 therapists responding. Descriptive statistics were used for the data analysis.

Findings.

Results show that the type and duration of intervention varied greatly throughout the province, as well as within health regions. Although 70% (87/124) of therapists reported being at least moderately familiar with current evidence, only 47% to 59% selected task-based methods as their primary intervention approach.

Implications.

Findings provide a baseline for current intervention and an opportunity for targeted knowledge translation initiatives.