Abstract
This study compares functional skills among individuals with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typically developing individuals. There are group differences in daily activities, mobility, vision processing, body awareness, and planning.
Primary Author and Speaker: Hailey J. Reid
Additional Authors and Speakers: Virginia W. Chu
Contributing Authors: Sheena Davis, Nouran Hussein Amin, Mahira Ali, Elsie Baker
This study examines sensorimotor function and daily activity participation in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typically developing (TD) children. DCD is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by difficulties in motor coordination [1] and often sensory processing [2,3]. This observational cross-sectional study recruited 22 DCD (4-16 yo, 74% male) and 40 TD children (4-14 yo, 52% male) via convenience sampling, with DCD participants recruited through local therapy clinics and the university hospital system. Parents completed the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT) and Sensory Processing Measure (SPM/SPM2) while children completed the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd Ed. Short Form (BOT-2-SF). Data were analyzed by a univariate general linear model with assessment scores as the dependent factor and group (DCD, TD) as the independent factor, controlling for handedness, gender, and age. The DCD group scored lower on the PEDI-CAT daily activity (DCD mean 30.68, TD mean 49.71, p <0.001) and mobility domains (DCD mean 32.42, TD mean 49.48, p <0.001). The social/cognitive and responsibility domain score differences were not significant (p >.05). The DCD group scored lower in BOT-2-SF standard score (DCD mean 37.74, TD mean 48.45, p = 0.026). The DCD group scored higher on the SPM in total t-score (DCD mean 66.21, TD mean 53.89, p = 0.007), vision (p = .017), body awareness (p = .02), and planning/ideas (p = .022). Other SPM domains were not significantly different between groups (p >0.05). As expected, children with DCD scored lower on the PEDI-CAT mobility and BOT-2, indicating motor control challenges [1,2,3,4]. This group showed difficulty with daily activities and sensory processing in vision, body awareness, and planning. These findings suggest that occupational therapy interventions targeting these areas can help improve function in meaningful occupations for children with DCD.
Biotteau, M., Albaret, J. M., & Chaix, Y. (2020). Developmental coordination disorder. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 174, 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-64148-9.00001-6
Tran, H. T., Li, Y. C., Lin, H. Y., Lee, S. D., & Wang, P. J. (2022). Sensory Processing Impairments in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 9(10), 1443. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9101443
Elbasan, B., Kayıhan, H., & Duzgun, I. (2012). Sensory integration and activities of daily living in children with developmental coordination disorder. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 38, 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/1824-7288-38-14
Van der Linde, B. W., van Netten, J. J., Otten, B., Postema, K., Geuze, R. H., & Schoemaker, M. M. (2015). Activities of Daily Living in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder: Performance, Learning, and Participation. Physical Therapy, 95(11), 1496–1506. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20140211