Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is characterized by a significant delay in the acquisition and execution of motor skills, impacting children's daily activities and school performance. The ...most recent prevalence estimates indicate that this disorder affects between 5 and 6% of school-age children. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of investigating the prevalence of DCD in different Brazilian regions.
To explore the prevalence of risk for DCD and probable DCD in children aged 6 to 10 years from two Brazilian regions.
199 children aged 6 to 10 years old from public schools in the South (n=89) and Southeast (n=108) regions of Brazil participated in this cross-sectional study. Parents/guardians signed the informed consent form under ethics approval. For screening and identification of alterations in motor function, the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2) was used, following all the criteria for the diagnosis of DCD recommended in the literature. The assessment was conducted in schools by trained professionals with experience in motor assessment. Prevalence of risk (≤15% percentile) and probable DCD (≤5% percentile) in both regions was calculated and analyzed descriptively. MABC-2 total scores and component scores were compared by region using t-tests, with a significance level of 5%.
The sample of this study consisted of 54.3% girls with a mean age of 7.95 (± 1.34) years and 45.7% boys with 7.88 (± 1.47) years. There were no differences between the mean age and sex distribution of participants between regions. No differences were found between regions in the total MABC-2 scores (p= 0.28). When analyzing the components of the instrument, the regions showed differences in the following domains: Manual Dexterity (p= 0.002), Aiming and Catching (p=0.01) and Balance (p= 0.01). It was observed that in the Balance component score, children from the South region had higher average scores compared to children from the Southeast region. Children from the Southeast region had higher average scores compared to children from the Southern region in Aiming and Catching and Manual Dexterity. In children from the Southern region of Brazil, 10.1% of the participants had probable DCD and 18% were at risk for DCD. Therefore, 71.9% had a typical motor development. A higher prevalence was found in the Southeast region, with 27.3% of children with probable DCD, 7.3% risk and 65.5% with typical motor performance.
The prevalence of DCD and the scores of children in specific motor domains were different across South and Southeast regions of the country. Thus, exploring other contextual factors that may have contributed to these findings is warranted.
The present study made progress towards identifying differences in the motor profile of children from two different regions of the country. Collecting representative data from other regions of the country will help to understand possible variations in motor performance according to the context where the child is inserted.
The most common neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., developmental dyslexia (DD), autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)) have been the subject of numerous neuroimaging studies, ...leading to certain brain regions being identified as neural correlates of these conditions, referring to a neural signature of disorders. Developmental coordination disorder (DCD), however, remains one of the least understood and studied neurodevelopmental disorders. Given the acknowledged link between motor difficulties and brain features, it is surprising that so few research studies have systematically explored the brains of children with DCD. The aim of the present review was to ascertain whether it is currently possible to identify a neural signature for DCD, based on the 14 magnetic resonance imaging neuroimaging studies that have been conducted in DCD to date. Our results indicate that several brain areas are unquestionably linked to DCD: cerebellum, basal ganglia, parietal lobe, and parts of the frontal lobe (medial orbitofrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex). However, research has been too sparse and studies have suffered from several limitations that constitute a serious obstacle to address the question of a well-established neural signature for DCD.
Evidence on the link between Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and obesity and overweight is mixed. Based on a pre-registered protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42023429432) we conducted the first ...systematic review/meta-analysis on the association between Developmental Coordination Disorder DCD and excessive weight. Web of Science, PubMed and an institutional database aggregator were searched until the 18th of December 2023. We assessed study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and study heterogeneity using Q and I2 statistics. Data from 22 studies were combined, comprising 11330 individuals out of which 1861 had DCD. The main analysis showed a significant association between DCD and higher body weight (OR:1.87, 95% CI =1.43, 2.44). Meta-regression analyses indicated that the relationship was mediated by age, with stronger effects in studies with higher mean age (p 0.004). We conclude that DCD is associated with obesity and overweight, and this association increases with age. Our study could help to implement targeted prevention and intervention measures.
•Children and adolescents with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have a greater risk for obesity or overweight.•This heightened risk increases with age.•Individuals with DCD could be a high-risk target of obesity prevention programs.
Although motor problems are highly prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), they remain underdiagnosed. Questionnaire-based screening for motor problems could optimize current ...clinical practice. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the developmental coordination disorder questionnaire (DCDQ) to screen for co-occurring motor problems in individuals with ASD (n = 115; aged 5–15 years). Results indicated an excellent internal consistency; concurrent and discriminant validity with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, second edition. Sensitivity was excellent, but specificity was lower. The positive and negative predictive values indicate that the DCDQ can be used to detect motor problems in children with ASD and can exclude the presence of developmental coordination disorder.
Motor difficulties associated with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are frequently apparent before the accepted diagnostic age of 5. Tools to support identification of DCD markers would ...allow provision of early intervention to reduce negative sequelae.
Establish psychometric properties and define preliminary cut-off scores for the Brazilian Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire - Brazil (LDCDQ-BR).
Parents of 3- and 4-year-old children (n = 312; 154 girls) from Belo Horizonte/MG, Brazil, completed the LDCDQ-BR, the Brazil Economic Classification Criterion and a demographic questionnaire. One sub-set of children (n = 119) was assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–2nd Edition; another sub-set (n = 77) completed the LDCDQ-BR a second time.
Rasch analysis indicated good item functioning with only one erratic item, suggesting unidimensionality. Item calibration reliability was excellent (0.97), children’s measures reliability was low (0.72), but implying separation of 2.46 motor ability levels. Significant, low correlations were found between the LDCDQ-BR and MABC-2 (r = 0.30, p < 0.01). Test-retest reliability was 0.77 (total score) and 0.44–0.78 (individual items). ROC curve analysis revealed sensitivity of 68% at a cut-off score of 64.
The LDCDQ-BR shows promising psychometric properties to support early identification of DCD.
•Rasch analysis was used to examine the measurement properties of the LDCDQ-BR.•Items were easy, but fit the Rasch model, suggesting unidimensionality.•Total score was valid, but subcategory scores were not.•The items discriminate two levels of motor ability.•Total score ≤ 64 suggests possible DCD in 3 and 4 years old Brazilian children.
The present study analyses the effect of a Movement-Based Intervention to improve Actual and Perceived Motor Competence in children with probable Developmental Coordination Disorder aged four and six ...years.
A longitudinal pre-experimental study was designed with measurements conducted at pre-test, post-test and follow-up (after 5 months without intervention). The group, composed of children with probable Developmental Coordination Disorder or low motor competence, consisted of 57 participants, and the duration of a Movement-Based Intervention was 27 sessions allocated in nine weeks.
Actual Motor Competence was evaluated with the Movement Assessment Battery for School children and Perceived Motor Competence with Pictorial Scale of Perceived Motor Skill Competence for Children. The results showed significant improvements in both study variables (Actual Motor Competence and Perceived Motor Competence), both at post-test and follow-up, five months after the end of the intervention.
In conclusion, a Movement-based Intervention is effective in improving Actual and Perceived Motor Competence in the participants of this research, children with low motor competence or probable Developmental Coordination Disorder.
Considering the improvements observed after the program in Spanish sample, it seems that the usual practice in Early Childhood Education in our context may not be sufficient, i.e., it may not provide children with the necessary support (number of lesson and time) and appropriate learning contexts to promote the development of their motor skills. Considering the results, this study suggests that using an Movement-Based Intervention with an appropriate pedagogical approach, and offering different learning opportunities to children according to their needs, could positively influence their Actual and Perceived Motor Competence, and could motivate them towards future practice.
•The movement-based Intervention show improvements in actual motor and perceived motor competence.•The findings seem to indicate that actual Physical Education programmes in Spain may not be sufficient in early childhood.•Physical Education programmes in Early Chilhood should be considered in the school timetable.•Importance of teacher training and their ability to handle the different pedagogical approaches.•Creating accessible practice contexts composed of tasks that promote opportunities for action is paramount.
The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) has been used to screen children who probably have developmental coordination disorder (DCD).
We systematically reviewed studies on the ...predictive validity of the DCDQ and performed a meta-analysis on its diagnostic accuracy.
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.
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.
This study demonstrated that the DCDQ has adequate diagnostic accuracy, suggesting it can help screen children with motor skill deficits.
•Systematic review and meta-analysis examine the diagnostic accuracy of the DCDQ.•DCDQ shows appropriate sensitivity and specificity, especially based on the DSM.•DCDQ07 shows stronger psychometric properties than the original DCDQ.•Clinical samples have better diagnostic accuracy compared to the general population.
Millions of children are impacted by neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), which unfold early in life, have varying genetic etiologies and can involve a variety of specific or generalized impairments ...in social, cognitive and motor functioning requiring potentially lifelong specialized supports. While specific disorders vary in their domain of primary deficit (e.g. autism spectrum disorder (social), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (attention), developmental coordination disorder (motor) and developmental language disorder (language)), comorbidities between NDDs are common. Intriguingly, many NDDs are associated with difficulties in skills related to rhythm, timing and synchrony though specific profiles of rhythm/timing impairments vary across disorders. Impairments in rhythm/timing may instantiate vulnerabilities for a variety of NDDs and may contribute to both the primary symptoms of each disorder as well as the high levels of comorbidities across disorders. Drawing upon genetic, neural, behavioural and interpersonal constructs across disorders, we consider how disrupted rhythm and timing skills early in life may contribute to atypical developmental cascades that involve overlapping symptoms within the context of a disorder's primary deficits. Consideration of the developmental context, as well as common and unique aspects of the phenotypes of different NDDs, will inform experimental designs to test this hypothesis including via potential mechanistic intervention approaches. This article is part of the theme issue 'Synchrony and rhythm interaction: from the brain to behavioural ecology'.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are distinct clinical groups with overlapping motor features. We attempted to (1) differentiate children with ASD from ...those with DCD, and from those typically developing (TD) (ages 8-17; 18 ASD, 16 DCD, 20 TD) using a 5-min coloring game on a smart tablet and (2) identify neural correlates of these differences. We utilized standardized behavioral motor assessments (e.g. fine motor, gross motor, and balance skills) and video recordings of a smart tablet task to capture any visible motor, behavioral, posture, or engagement differences. We employed machine learning analytics of motor kinematics during a 5-min coloring game on a smart tablet. Imaging data was captured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during action production tasks. While subject-rated motor assessments could not differentiate the two clinical groups, machine learning computational analysis provided good predictive discrimination: between TD and ASD (76% accuracy), TD and DCD (78% accuracy), and ASD and DCD (71% accuracy). Two kinematic markers which strongly drove categorization were significantly correlated with cerebellar activity. Findings demonstrate unique neuromotor patterns between ASD and DCD relate to cerebellar function and present a promising route for computational techniques in early identification. These are promising preliminary results that warrant replication with larger samples.
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