French Canadian cross-cultural adaptation of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire '07: DCDQ-FC

Predictive validity of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire as a screening tool to identify motor skill problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) has been used to screen children who probably have developmental coordination disorder (DCD).

AIMS

We systematically reviewed studies on the predictive validity of the DCDQ and performed a meta-analysis on its diagnostic accuracy.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Literature was searched through four electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycArticles. A total of 27 studies was selected based on the inclusion criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of the DCDQ were assessed using summary receiver operating characteristic (sROC) curves. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to the DCDQ type, reference standard, and participant type.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

Overall, the DCDQ has a sensitivity of 0.70 and a specificity of 0.77, showing moderate diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve, 0.80). Subgroup analysis showed that the revised version of the DCDQ had higher diagnostic accuracy than the original version. When the reference standard was the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the sensitivity and specificity of the DCDQ were 0.87 and 0.83, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was higher in clinical samples compared to the general population.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

This study demonstrated that the DCDQ has adequate diagnostic accuracy, suggesting it can help screen children with motor skill deficits.

Atypical procedural learning skills in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

We investigated the procedural learning deficit hypothesis in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) while controlling for global performance such as slower reaction times (RTs) and variability. Procedural (sequence) learning was assessed in 31 children with DCD and 31 age-matched typically developing (TD) children through a serial reaction time task (SRTT). Sequential and random trial conditions were intermixed within five training epochs. Two repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted on a Sequence-Specific Learning Index (SSLI) and a Global Performance Index (GPI, speed/accuracy measure) with Epoch (for SSLI and GPI) and Condition (for GPI) as within-subjects factors, and Group as between-subjects factor. Controlling for RTs differences through normalized RTs, revealed a global reduction of SSLI in children with DCD compared with TD peers suggesting reduced sequence learning skills in DCD. Still, a significant Group x Condition interaction observed on GPI indicated that children from both groups were able to discriminate between sequential and random trials. DCD presented reduced procedural learning skills after controlling for global performance. This finding highlights the importance of considering the general functioning of the child while assessing learning skills in patients.

Teaching and Rehabilitation of Handwriting for Children in the Digital Age: Issues and Challenges

Handwriting is a determining factor for academic success and autonomy for all children. Making knowledge accessible to all is a challenge in the context of inclusive education. Given the neurodevelopmental diversity within a classroom of children, ensuring that the handwriting of all pupils progresses is very demanding for education professionals. The development of tools that can take into account the variability of the profiles and learning abilities of children with handwriting difficulties offers a new potential for the development of specific and adapted remediation strategies. This narrative review aims to present and discuss the challenges of handwriting learning and the opportunities offered by new technologies involving AI for school and health professionals to successfully improve the handwriting skills of all children.

Cognitive, perceptual, and motor profiles of school-aged children with developmental coordination disorder

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a heterogeneous condition. Besides motor impairments, children with DCD often exhibit poor visual perceptual skills and executive functions. This study aimed to characterize the motor, perceptual, and cognitive profiles of children with DCD at the group level and in terms of subtypes. A total of 50 children with DCD and 31 typically developing (TD) peers (7–11 years old) underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological (15 tests) and motor (three subscales of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2) assessment. The percentage of children with DCD showing impairments in each measurement was first described. Hierarchical agglomerative and K-means iterative partitioning clustering analyses were then performed to distinguish the subtypes present among the complete sample of children (DCD and TD) in a data-driven way. Moderate to large percentages of children with DCD showed impaired executive functions (92%) and praxis (meaningless gestures and postures, 68%), as well as attentional (52%), visual perceptual (46%), and visuomotor (36%) skills. Clustering analyses identified five subtypes, four of them mainly consisting of children with DCD and one of TD children. These subtypes were characterized by: (i) generalized impairments (8 children with DCD), (ii) impaired manual dexterity, poor balance (static/dynamic), planning, and alertness (15 DCD and 1 TD child), (iii) impaired manual dexterity, cognitive inhibition, and poor visual perception (11 children with DCD), (iv) impaired manual dexterity and cognitive inhibition (15 DCD and 5 TD children), and (v) no impairment (25 TD and 1 child with DCD). Besides subtle differences, the motor and praxis measures did not enable to discriminate between the four subtypes of children with DCD. The subtypes were, however, characterized by distinct perceptual or cognitive impairments. These results highlight the importance of assessing exhaustively the perceptual and cognitive skills of children with DCD.

In Utero Exposure to Caffeine and Acetaminophen, the Gut Microbiome, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

Pregnant individuals are exposed to acetaminophen and caffeine, but it is unknown how these exposures interact with the developing gut microbiome. We aimed to determine whether acetaminophen and/or caffeine relate to the childhood gut microbiome and whether features of the gut microbiome alter the relationship between acetaminophen/caffeine and neurodevelopment. Forty-nine and 85 participants provided meconium and stool samples at 6-7, respectively, for exposure and microbiome assessment. Fecal acetaminophen and caffeine concentrations were quantified, and fecal DNA underwent metagenomic sequencing. Caregivers and study staff assessed the participants' motor and cognitive development using standardized scales. Prenatal exposures had stronger associations with the childhood microbiome than concurrent exposures. Prenatal acetaminophen exposure was associated with a trend of lower gut bacterial diversity in childhood [β = -0.17 Shannon Index, 95% CI: (-0.31, -0.04)] and was marginally associated with differences in the relative abundances of features of the gut microbiome at the phylum (Firmicutes, Actinobacteria) and gene pathway levels. Among the participants with a higher relative abundance of Proteobacteria, prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and caffeine was associated with lower scores on WISC-IV subscales. Acetaminophen during bacterial colonization of the naïve gut is associated with lasting alterations in childhood microbiome composition. Future studies may inform our understanding of downstream health effects.

Atypical resting-state functional brain connectivity in children with developmental coordination disorder

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) present lower abilities to acquire and execute coordinated motor skills. DCD is frequently associated with visual perceptual (with or without motor component) impairments. This magnetoencephalography (MEG) study compares the brain resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and spectral power of children with and without DCD. 29 children with DCD and 28 typically developing (TD) peers underwent 2 × 5 min of resting-state MEG. Band-limited power envelope correlation and spectral power were compared between groups using a functional connectome of 59 nodes from eight resting-state networks. Correlation coefficients were calculated between fine and gross motor activity, visual perceptual and visuomotor abilities measures on the one hand, and brain rsFC and spectral power on the other hand. Nonparametric statistics were used. Significantly higher rsFC between nodes of the visual, attentional, frontoparietal, default-mode and cerebellar networks was observed in the alpha (maximum statistics, p = .0012) and the low beta (p = .0002) bands in children with DCD compared to TD peers. Lower visuomotor performance (copying figures) was associated with stronger interhemispheric rsFC within sensorimotor areas and power in the cerebellum (right lobule VIII). Children with DCD showed increased rsFC mainly in the dorsal extrastriate visual brain system and the cerebellum. However, this increase was not associated with their coordinated motor/visual perceptual abilities. This enhanced functional brain connectivity could thus reflect a characteristic brain trait of children with DCD compared to their TD peers. Moreover, an interhemispheric compensatory process might be at play to perform visuomotor task within the normative range.

Test of Gross Motor Development–3 Validity and Reliability: A Screening Form

Background: The Test of Gross Motor Development–3 (TGMD-3) is used to assess locomotor (LOCS) and ball (BS) skills in children. This test provides relevant information for evaluating learning and determining teaching efficacy. However, conducting and coding the test is time consuming. A screening form may improve its usage in specific settings and populations. Purpose: This study aimed to develop a screening form for the TGMD-3-SF and examine its validity and reliability. Method: We assessed 1,192 3-to-10-year-old children; 772 children completed the TGMD-3 and 420 the TGMD-3-SF; 114 children were retested for temporal stability and 300 for criterion validity. Results: We found appropriate results for the two-factors model, LOCS (gallop, hop, and skip) and BS (one-hand strike, kick, and overhand throw), RMSEA = .025, comparative-fit index = .99, and Tukey–Lewis index = .99; internal consistency (LOCS, α = .60; BS, α = .71); item validity (LOCS, r = .43, p < .001; BS, r = .47, p < .001); interrater (ICC = .86–.99), intrarater (ICC = .61–.92), test–retest (LOCS, ICC = .87; BS, ICC = .78) reliability, and concurrent validity (LOCS, r = .89, p < .01; BS, r = .90, p < .001). Conclusions: The TGMD-3-SF is valid and reliable for assessing children’s gross motor development.

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.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Preliminary Reliability of the Adolescents and Adults Coordination Questionnaire into European Spanish

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a developmental disorder affecting motor coordination skills, that frequently persists into adolescence and adulthood. Despite this, very few instruments exist to identify DCD in this population, and none of them are available for Spanish young adults. The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally adapt and preliminarily validate the Adolescents and Adults Coordination Questionnaire (AAC-Q) into European Spanish. The AAC-Q was translated and adapted following international recommendations, including: (a) two independent forward translations; (b) synthesis and reconciliation; (c) expert committee review; and (d) a comprehensibility test. In addition, the internal consistency and homogeneity were examined using a sample of 100 Spanish higher education students. Cultural equivalence and idiomatic differences were addressed to produce the AAC-Q-ES. Findings show that the AAC-Q-ES is a cross-culturally adapted instrument with good preliminary reliability indicators in Spanish young adults (Cronbach’s α = 0.74; corrected item-total correlations = 0.217–0.504).

Motor Abnormalities in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder Are Associated With Regional Grey Matter Volumes

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are associated with motor impairments, with some children holding a comorbid diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). However, DCD is underdiagnosed in these populations and the volume abnormalities that contribute to explaining these motor impairments are poorly understood. In this study, motor abilities as measured by the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) were compared between children with ADHD, children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children, aged 8–12 years old. Additionally, the association between the DCDQ scores (general coordination, fine motor/handwriting, control during movement, total) and regional volume abnormalities were explored in 6 regions of interest (pre-central gyrus, post-central gyrus, inferior parietal cortex, superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus), within each group and across all participants. Children with ASD and children with ADHD showed impaired motor abilities in all the DCDQ-derived scores compared to TD children. Additionally, most children with ASD or ADHD had an indication or suspicion of DCD. Within the ASD group, coordination abilities were associated with the volume of the right medial frontal gyrus, and within the ADHD group, the total DCDQ score was associated with the volume of the right superior frontal gyrus. This study underlines the importance of routinely checking motor abilities in populations with ASD or ADHD in clinical practise and contributes to the understanding of structural abnormalities subtending motor impairments in these disorders.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Preliminary Validation of the European Spanish Version of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ–ES)

Importance: The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) is the most widely used measure of difficulties with activities of daily living and academic performance in children with developmental coordination disorder, but this tool has not been adapted for use in Spain.

Objective: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the DCDQ into European Spanish (DCDQ–ES) for use in assessing motor coordination in Spanish children.

Design: Cross-cultural adaptation and preliminary validation study.

Setting: Community and mainstream schools in Spain.

Participants: A committee of five experts oversaw the cross-cultural adaptation process. A community-based convenience sample of 31 parents of children ages 5–14 yr was used to test the comprehensibility of the DCDQ–ES. Preliminary reliability was tested with 35 randomly selected parents of children ages 6–12 yr.

Outcomes and Measures: The DCDQ was translated into European Spanish and cross-culturally adapted following international guidelines. Comprehensibility was assessed using cognitive debriefing interviews. The final version of the DCDQ–ES was used for the reliability analysis.

Results: Cultural relevance and equivalence and idiomatic differences between the DCDQ and DCDQ–ES were evaluated. Comprehensibility analysis led to minor modifications that facilitated comprehension and interpretation. Internal consistency and homogeneity of the DCDQ–ES were good (Cronbach’s α = .857, corrected item–total correlations = .268–.692).

Conclusions and Relevance: The DCDQ–ES is conceptually and semantically equivalent to DCDQ and was successfully cross-culturally adapted for the European Spanish context. Preliminary data suggest that the DCDQ–ES is a reliable measure of motor coordination in Spanish children.

What This Article Adds: This study provides evidence of the cultural equivalence of the DCDQ–ES for use with Spanish children. Occupational therapists in Spain can use the DCDQ–ES to evaluate children’s motor coordination difficulties in everyday activities.

Psychometric Validation and Reference Norms for the European Spanish Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire: DCDQ-ES

The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) is a widely used and well-validated tool that contributes to the diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The aim of this study was to further analyze the psychometric properties of the European Spanish cross-culturally adapted version of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ-ES) in a sample of Spanish children aged 6-11 years and to establish reference norms with respect to age groups. Parents of 540 typically developing children completed the DCDQ-ES. A second sample of 30 children with probable DCD (pDCD) was used to test its discriminant validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original three-factor structure and the internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's α = 0.907). Significant differences between age groups were found. The pDCD group scored significantly lower than the reference sample in the three subscales and DCDQ-ES total score (p < 0.001; AUC = 0.872). The DCDQ-ES is a reliable and valid tool for screening motor coordination difficulties in Spanish children and for identifying children with probable DCD. The findings of this research suggest that context-specific cut-off scores should be systematically utilized when using cross-cultural adaptations of the DCDQ. Age-specific cut-off scores for Spanish children are provided.

Identifying Developmental Motor Difficulties: A Review of Tests to Assess Motor Coordination in Children

The latest guidelines recommend early identification of children with motor impairments using a standardized norm-referenced test. Motor coordination difficulties in developmental age have been studied extensively over recent years, with experimental literature on developmental coordination disorder (DCD) suggesting that motor proficiency assessments depend on the nature of the task at hand. In this article we reviewed 14 assessment tools to measure movement performance in childhood and adolescence, which are often referred to in an international context. This updated review aims to compare motor tests depending on a) the nature of the tasks included in the battery (i.e., questionnaire and clinical examination), b) psychometric properties, and c) cultural adaptation to relevant developmental norms. Finally, implications for diagnosis and clinical practice are discussed. Considering there are several tests used for DCD, it is important to better define their reliability and validity in different cultures in order to better compare the validation studies and select the most appropriate test to use in the assessment procedure.

Psychometric properties of observational tools for identifying motor difficulties - a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Early identification of children with motor difficulties, such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is essential. At present only a fraction of children with DCD are identified. The purpose of the study was to systematically review the literature from 1994 to 2017 on observational screening tools and to evaluate the validity, reliability and usability of the questionnaires used.

METHODS

The review of the literature was conducted to synthesize the data from five electronic databases for children aged 6-12 years. The following databases were searched: Academic search Elite (EBSCO), ERIC (ProQuest), MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (ProQuest), and SPORTDiscus with Full Text (EBSCO). The studies meeting our inclusion criteria were analyzed to assess the psychometric properties and feasibility of the measures.

RESULTS

The literature search retrieved 1907 potentially relevant publications. The final number of studies that met the inclusion criteria of our systematic review was 45. There were 11 questionnaires for parents, teachers and children. None of the questionnaires was valid for population-based screening as the only measurement tool.

CONCLUSIONS

There are many challenges in using initial screening tools to identify children with motor difficulties. Nevertheless, many promising questionnaires are being developed that can provide information on functional skills and limitations across a variety of tasks and settings in the daily lives of children with DCD. The review provides much needed information about the current scales used in many clinical, educational and research settings. Implications for assessing psychometric properties of the developed questionnaires and further research are discussed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO, CRD42018087532 .

RECONSIDERING THE USE OF CUT-OFF SCORES: DCDQ - BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Introduction: The DCDQ is a parental report designed to assess daily living activities of children, and serves as a useful questionnaire to aid in the diagnostic criteria of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). It is divided into three components: control during movement, fine motor/handwriting, and general coordination. The results categorize children in two groups: “Indication of DCD/suspect DCD”, and “probably not DCD”. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine appropriate cut-off scores for the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire - Brazil (DCDQ-BR) for use with Brazilian children employing a large sample. Methods: Seven hundred and seven children ages 6-10 were assessed with the DCDQ-BR and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2). Descriptive statistics was used to characterize the sample, and concurrent validity was assessed using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Predictive validity was determined through values of sensitivity (S) and specificity (E), while ROC curves were used to determine the optimal cut-off score for the DCDQ-BR. Results: Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis revealed a significant correlation between total scores of the DCDQ-BR and BOT-2 (r= 0.55 (p=0.00). Cut-off scores for the DCDQ-BR based on the BOT-2 17th percentile (relating to below average descriptive category) were established as ≤40, ≤46 and ≤51 for ages 6-7 years and 11 months; 8-9 years and 11 months; and 10-10 years and 11 months, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study and previous literature suggesting the need for a reevaluation of cut-off scores for the Brazilian population with a larger sample, we recommend that the cut-off scores of the DCDQ-BR are adjusted to the values found with our sample. Level of evidence II; Diagnostic studies – Investigating a diagnostic test.

Is the motor skills checklist appropriate for assessing children in Japan?

PURPOSE

Motor skill screening tools are essential for the early detection of developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The present study aimed to examine any cultural and rater effects on these tools. This then enabled us to judge the validity of the original cut-off values for identifying diagnosable children.

METHODS

A community sample survey was performed in Japan; 3852 children aged 6-9 years were recruited. Both parents and teachers evaluated the motor skills of their children using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition Checklist. The psychometric properties were evaluated and the scoring characteristics examined based on the type of rater and country of origin, as compared to data originally sampled in the UK.

RESULTS

High reliability and validity of the Japanese samples were confirmed. The Japanese adults evaluated their children's motor skills more rigorously than the Europeans. Additionally, there was a large disagreement between parent and teacher rating scores; the degree of agreement varied depending on the severity of motor deficits in the child.

CONCLUSION

The first findings from a Japanese sample suggest that the assessment of motor skills in children is significantly affected by culture and rater. These cultural characteristics and rater biases strongly suggest that new cut-off values, reflecting country and rater type, be introduced for identifying children at risk of DCD.

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.

Kinematic analysis of fast pen strokes in children with ADHD

In this study, we aimed to determine whether a new measure of fine motor skills, the Pen Stroke Test (PST), can discriminate between children with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Twelve children with ADHD and 12 controls age 8-11 were asked to produce handwriting strokes on a digitizer. The sigma-lognormal model derived from the Kinematic Theory of rapid human movements was used to analyze the strokes. Standard measurements of fine motor skills and handwriting were also obtained. Children with ADHD demonstrated poorer motor planning (t₀, D) and execution (nbLog) and greater variability in motor control (SNR/nbLog) than did controls. Parameters extracted from the PST were significantly correlated with performance on other motor and handwriting measures. This study provides preliminary evidence that the PST may be useful as a tool for rapidly detecting motor skill problems in the context of ADHD.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire in Turkish Children

The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ’07) is an instrument for screening children between 5 and 15 years of age. Although it is popular, this instrument has not been adapted for use with Turkish children, and there is no valid similar screening tool in Turkey. Thus, this study aimed to provide a cross-cultural adaptation of the DCDQ’07 for Turkish children. We performed the translation process using well-established cross-cultural adaptation guidelines, and we recruited 736 parents (361 males, 375 females) of typically developing children with a mean ( M) age of 9.27 years (standard deviation = 2 years 5 months, range: 5.0–14.9 years). We determined the internal consistency of the questionnaire by item and total score correlations, Cronbach’s α and item-deleted Cronbach’s α. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to determine test–retest reliability after an interval of 5 days. The Cronbach’s α of the Turkish DCDQ’07 was .890 for the total questionnaire. All the item-deleted Cronbach’s α values were lower than the total value of .890, except the bull in a China shop item (Cronbach’s α values .896). Test–retest reliability ranged from .99 to 1.00. The Turkish DCDQ is a valid and reliable screening tool for assessing the motor performance of children between 5 and 15 years of age.

Adaptation and Preliminary Testing of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) for Children in India

AIMS

While Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) has gained worldwide attention, in India it is relatively unknown. The revised DCD Questionnaire (DCDQ'07) is one of the most utilized screening tools for DCD. The aim of this study was to translate the DCDQ'07 into the Hindi language (DCDQ-Hindi) and test its basic psychometric properties.

METHODS

The DCDQ'07 was translated following guidelines for cross cultural adaptation of instruments. Parents of 1100 children (5-15 years) completed the DCDQ-Hindi, of which 955 were considered for data analysis and 60 were retested randomly after 3 weeks for test-retest reliability.

RESULTS

The DCDQ-Hindi showed high internal consistency (α = .86) and moderate test-retest reliability (.73). Confirmatory factor analysis showed equivalence to the DCDQ'07. The% probable DCD using DCDQ'07 cutoff scores (≤57) ranged from 22% to 68%. Using more stringent cutoffs (≤36) it ranged from 5% to 9%. Significant difference was seen for gender (p < .05) in subset 1(gross-motor skills) total scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The DCDQ-Hindi reveals promise for initial identification of Hindi speaking Indian children with DCD. Based on more stringent cut-off scores, the "probable prevalence" of children with risk of DCD in India appears to be around 6-7%. Research with larger sample and comparison with the MABC-2 or equivalent is needed.

Exploring inter-task transfer following a CO-OP approach with four children with DCD: A single subject multiple baseline design

INTRODUCTION

Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach has been shown to be effective for improving the performance of tasks worked on in therapy and the use of cognitive strategies. No study to date seems to have explored its effectiveness for improving performance of untrained tasks (inter-task transfer) in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine whether CO-OP leads to improved performance in an untrained task.

METHODS

A single-subject design with multiple baselines across skills was adopted, with three replications. Four children with DCD (7-12years) received 10 sessions of CO-OP intervention where each child worked on three tasks during therapy sessions and a fourth task was identified, but not worked on, to verify inter-task transfer. Task performance was rated over four phases (baseline, intervention, post-intervention, follow-up) using the Performance Quality Rating Scale (PQRS-OD). Graphed data was statistically analyzed using a two or three standard deviation band method.

RESULTS

Significant improvement was obtained for 11 of 12 tasks worked on during therapy and for two of the four untrained tasks.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the effectiveness of CO-OP to improve untrained tasks in children merit further exploration.

Study of clinical characteristics in young subjects with Developmental coordination disorder

BACKGROUND

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a chronic neurological disorder observed in children. DCD is characterized by slowness in activities and motor impairment that affects the children's daily living and academic achievements, and later their professional and social behavior. Our aim in this work was to report characteristics frequencies in a group of children with DCD and to propose a subtyping of DCD characteristics.

METHODS

Thirty three clinical DCD characteristics, the mostly reported in the literature, were assessed in 129 patients, boys and girls aged from 4years to 18years, and their subtyping was proposed. The statistical analyses were carried out with the Chi square, the t-test and the correlation for the statistical differences, and with the Ward clustering method for subtyping.

RESULTS

We found that there were 3.17 boys for one girl, all patients were characterized as slow, 47% were left-handers or ambidextrous, 36% and 26% had orofacial and verbal dyspraxia, respectively, 83% were found anxious, and 84% were described as being clumsy.

CONCLUSIONS

It appears from these results that a child with DCD expresses more than a single difficulty. Three subtypes emerged from the statistical analysis in this study: (1) clumsiness and other characteristics except language difficulties; (2) self-esteem and peer relation without clumsiness and language difficulties; (3) language difficulties and orofacial dyspraxia.

European-French Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire and Pretest in French-Speaking Switzerland

The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ'07) is a Canadian-English instrument recommended for screening children aged 5 to 15 years who are at risk for developmental coordination disorder. While a Canadian-French version of the DCDQ'07 presently exists, a European-French version does not.

AIMS

To produce a cross-cultural adaptation of the DCDQ'07 for use in areas of Europe where French is spoken and to test its cultural relevance in French-speaking Switzerland.

METHODS

Cross-cultural adaptation was done using established guidelines. Cultural relevance was analyzed with cognitive interviews of thirteen parents of children aged 5.0 to 14.6 years (mean age: 8.5 years, SD = 3.4), using think-aloud and probing techniques.

RESULTS

Cultural and linguistic differences were noted between the European-French, the Canadian-French, and the original versions of the DCDQ'07. Despite correct translation and expert committee review, cognitive interviews revealed that certain items of the European-French version were unclear or misinterpreted and further modifications were needed.

CONCLUSIONS

After rewording items as a result of the outcomes of the cognitive interview, the European-French version of the DCDQ'07 is culturally appropriate for use in French-speaking Switzerland. Further studies are necessary to determine its psychometric properties.

Concurrent validation of the MABC-2 Motor Tests and MABC-2 Checklist according to the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire-BR

The Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd Ed (MABC-2), comprised of motor tests and a questionnaire (Checklist), has been used by several nationalities to identify problems in children's motor behavior. However, the level of agreement between the motor tests and the checklist has been questioned. So, this study aimed to test the level of competition between the MABC-2 motor test and MABC-2 Checklist, controlled by the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ-BR) as the gold reference. Parents of 40 children and 16 teachers responded to the MABC-2 Checklist and the DCDQ-BR. Later 40 children were evaluated using the MABC-2 motor test. No significant congruence among a comparison of the MABC-2 motor tests, MABC-2 Checklist and DCDQ-BR was observed. The results indicated that there is no concurrent validity between the MABC-2 motor tests and the DCDQ-BR test, whereas the MABC-2 Checklist showed low levels of concurrent validity with the DCDQ-BR.

Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ-Italian)

A valid tool that contributes to the diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is represented by the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire 2007 (DCDQ'07). Recently we developed the Italian version of DCDQ (DCDQ-Italian). The aim of this study was to further analyze the psychometric properties in a sample of Italian school children aged 5-12 years and to establish cut-off scores with respect to age groups. A total of 698 parents completed the DCDQ-Italian and 45 of them repeated it after 2 weeks for test-retest reliability. One hundred and seventeen children were tested using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this version to be consistent with the original. Cronbach's alpha for the total score was 0.89 and test-retest reliability was 0.88. Two-ways ANOVA for total and single subscales showed a significant main effect for age group only and not for gender. Sensitivity and specificity for our community based sample were 59% and 65% respectively, considering the cut-off scores for the 15th percentile of M-ABC and increasing when age groups were taken into account (ROC curve=0.62). The agreement with the original was good if 15th is considered. This is the first study on the psychometric property of DCDQ in a community sample of Italian children. The DCDQ-Italian could be used as a screening tool for motor coordination difficulties in Italian children. Slight differences in cut-offs should be considered when using this version.