Abstract Present in approximately 5–6% of school-aged children, developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neuromotor disability in which a child's motor coordination difficulties significantly ...interfere with activities of daily living or academic achievement. These children typically have difficulty with fine and/or gross motor skills, with motor performance that is usually slower, less accurate, and more variable than that of their peers. In this paper, we review the history of various definitions leading up to the current definition of DCD, prevalence estimates for the disorder, etiology, common co-morbidities, the impact of DCD on the child's life, and prognosis. As well, we briefly describe current interventions for children with the disorder and results of recent neuroimaging studies of the brains of children with DCD, including research by the authors of this paper.
•Findings extend support for the effectiveness of activity-oriented, as well as body function-oriented approaches when combined with activities.•An important new finding was the evidence of training ...effectiveness when programs were conducted in a small group format and for programs aiming at improved physical fitness.•Data suggest that active computer-assisted training can be a useful adjunct treatment, but the active ingredients are unknown.•Relatively short duration interventions still demonstrated positive treatment effects.•Comparison studies between approaches and groups (age, gender, severity, whether referred or selected and with co-occurring conditions) are needed.
As part of the process of creating an update of the clinical practice guidelines for developmental coordination disorder (DCD) (Blank, Smits-Engelsman, Polatajko, & Wilson, 2012), a systematic review of intervention studies, published since the last guidelines statement was conducted.
The aim of this study was to 1) systematically review the evidence published from January 2012 to February 2017 regarding the effectiveness of motor based interventions in individuals with DCD, 2) quantify treatment effects using a meta-analysis, 3) examine the available information on different aspects of delivery including use of group intervention, duration and frequency of therapy, and 4) identify gaps in the literature and make recommendations for future intervention research.
An electronic search of 5 databases (PubMed, Embase, Pedro, Scopus and Cochrane) was conducted for studies that evaluated motor-based interventions to improve performance for individuals with DCD.
Thirty studies covering 25 datasets were included, 19 of which provided outcomes on standardized measures of motor performance. The overall effect size (Cohen’s d) across intervention studies was large (1.06), but the range was wide: for 11 interventions, the observed effect was large (>0.80), in eight studies moderate (>0.50), and in five it was small or negligible (<0.50). Positive benefits were evident for activity-oriented approaches, body function-oriented combined with activities, active video games, and small group programs.
Results showed that activity-oriented and body function oriented interventions can have a positive effect on motor function and skills. However, given the varied methodological quality and the large confidence intervals of some studies, the results should be interpreted with caution.
Autism spectrum disorders are considered to be among the most heritable mental disorders, a notion based on surprisingly sparse data from small clinical studies. Population-based studies of the ...heritability of other neuropsychiatric disorders and comorbidities among them have also been sparse. The authors sought to address both of these issues.
Parents of all Swedish 9- and 12-year-old twin pairs born between 1992 and 2000 (N=10,895) were interviewed regarding autism spectrum disorders and associated conditions (response rate, 80%). Concordance rates and structural equation modeling were used for evaluating causes for familial aggregation and overlap between conditions.
Monozygotic twins had higher concordance rates than dizygotic twins for autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental coordination disorder, and tic disorder. Genetic effects accounted for 80% (95% CI=29-91) of the variation in liability for autism spectrum disorders, 79% (95% CI=61-88) for ADHD, 70% (95% CI=35-83) for developmental coordination disorder, and 56% (95% CI=37-68) for tic disorder. Among monozygotic co-twins of children with autism spectrum disorders, the probability of having a diagnosis of ADHD was 44%, compared with 15% for dizygotic co-twins. Differences in cross-disorder effects between monozygotic and dizygotic twins were observed for most other comorbidities, and substantial proportions of the genetic variance for autism spectrum disorders was shared with each of the other disorders.
Different neuropsychiatric disorders seem to have a common genetic etiology, suggesting caution in the use of diagnostic entities and proband status in efforts to uncover genes predisposing to autism spectrum disorders.
To assess the prevalence, timing, and functional impact of psychiatric, cognitive, and motor abnormalities in Huntington disease (HD) gene carriers, we analyzed retrospective clinical data from ...individuals with manifest HD.
Clinical features of patients with HD were analyzed for 6,316 individuals in an observational study of the European Huntington's Disease Network (REGISTRY) from 161 sites across 17 countries. Data came from clinical history and the patient-completed Clinical Characteristics Questionnaire that assessed 8 symptoms: motor, cognitive, apathy, depression, perseverative/obsessive behavior, irritability, violent/aggressive behavior, and psychosis. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze relationships between symptoms and functional outcomes.
The initial manifestation of HD is increasingly likely to be motor and less likely to be psychiatric as age at presentation increases and is independent of pathogenic CAG repeat length. The Clinical Characteristics Questionnaire captures data on nonmotor symptom prevalence that correlate specifically with validated clinical measures. Psychiatric and cognitive symptoms are common in HD gene carriers, with earlier onsets associated with longer CAG repeats. Of patients with HD, 42.4% reported at least 1 psychiatric or cognitive symptom before motor symptoms, with depression most common. Each nonmotor symptom was associated with significantly reduced total functional capacity scores.
Psychiatric and cognitive symptoms are common and functionally debilitating in HD gene carriers. They require recognition and targeting with clinical outcome measures and treatments. However, because it is impossible to distinguish confidently between nonmotor symptoms arising from HD and primary psychiatric disorders, particularly in younger premanifest patients, nonmotor symptoms should not be used to make a clinical diagnosis of HD.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01590589.
Abstract
Background
Motor impairments are pervasive in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); however, children with ASD rarely receive a dual diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The ...Simons Foundation SPARK study engaged families affected by ASD through an online study.
Objectives
The DCD parent questionnaire (DCDQ) was used to assess the prevalence of a risk for motor impairment or DCD in children with ASD between 5 and 15 years of age.
Design
This study utilizes parent reports from a large database of children with ASD.
Methods
A total of 16,705 parents of children with ASD completed the DCDQ. We obtained our final SPARK dataset (n = 11,814) after filtering out invalid data, using stronger cut-offs to confirm ASD traits, and excluding children with general neuromotor impairments/intellectual delays. We compared DCDQ total and subscale scores from the SPARK dataset with published norms for each age between 5 and 15 years.
Results
The proportion of children with ASD at risk for a motor impairment was very high at 86.9%. Children with ASD did not outgrow their motor impairments and continued to present with a risk for DCD even into adolescence. Yet, only 31.6% of children were receiving physical therapy services.
Limitations
Our analysis of a large database of parent-reported outcomes using the DCDQ did not involve follow-up clinical assessments.
Conclusions
Using a large sample of children with ASD, this study shows that a risk for motor impairment or DCD was present in most children with ASD and persists into adolescence; however, only a small proportion of children with ASD were receiving physical therapist interventions. A diagnosis of ASD must trigger motor screening, evaluations, and appropriate interventions by physical and occupational therapists to address the functional impairments of children with ASD while also positively impacting their social communication, cognition, and behavior. Using valid motor measures, future research must determine if motor impairment is a fundamental feature of ASD.
Abstract Non motor symptoms (NMS) represent a significant burden in Parkinson's disease (PD) with numerous studies highlighting the importance of NMS both in “pre-motor” phase of PD as well as ...throughout the course of disease. In part this has led the international Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (IPMDS) task force to attempt a re-definition of PD incorporating NMS and not base the diagnosis solely on motor symptoms. While motor subtypes within PD have been recognized and researched, recent clinical and neurobiological research suggests the existence of discrete non motor subtypes in PD, particularly in untreated (drug naïve) and early PD patients. Several independent observers have reported specific “clusters of NMS dominant PD” using a data driven approach in early and untreated PD patients while others have reported on the burden of NMS in untreated PD and specific NMS dominant phenotypes in untreated or treated PD using observational case series based data. In this review we report on specific NMS dominant phenotypes of PD as described in the literature using clinical observational studies and address pathophysiological concepts. A proposal for several NMS subtypes are reported combining clinical reports with, where possible, evidence base supporting probable biomarkers.
The aim of this study was to validate the expanded and revised Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS‐E&R) for children and youth with cerebral palsy using group consensus methods. ...Eighteen physical therapists participated in a nominal group technique to evaluate the draft version of a 12‐ to 18‐year age band. Subsequently, 30 health professionals from seven countries participated in a Delphi survey to evaluate the revised 12‐ to 18‐year and 6‐ to 12‐year age bands. Consensus was defined as agreement with a question by at least 80% of participants. After round 3 of the Delphi survey, consensus was achieved for the clarity and accuracy of the descriptions for each level and the distinctions between levels for both the 12‐ to 18‐year and 6‐ to 12‐year age bands. Participants also agreed that the distinction between capability and performance and the concept that environmental and personal factors influence methods of mobility were useful for classification of gross motor function. The results provide evidence of content validity of the GMFCS‐E&R. The GMFCS‐E&R has utility for communication, clinical decision making, databases, registries, and clinical research.
There are increasing numbers of surviving children who were born extremely preterm (EP; gestational age <28 weeks) or extremely low birth weight (ELBW; birth weight <1000 g). Our objective in this ...study was to compare the rates of motor impairment at 8 years of age between 3 cohorts of EP and/or ELBW and term-born children to establish if motor impairment rates are changing over time.
All children born EP and/or ELBW in the calendar years of 1991-1992, 1997, and 2005 in Victoria, Australia, were recruited at birth. Randomly selected normal birth weight (>2499 g) and term-born controls were matched for expected date of birth, sex, and sociodemographic status. At 8 years' corrected age, motor impairment was defined as cerebral palsy (CP) or a score less than the fifth centile on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children for the 1991-1992 and 1997 cohorts and less than or equal to the fifth centile on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition for the 2005 cohort.
Motor impairment was more likely in children born EP and/or ELBW compared with children born at term for all epochs. There was a significant increase in motor impairment in EP and/or ELBW children over the 3 eras, from 23% in 1991-1992 and 26% in 1997 to 37% in 2005 (χ
= 10.2;
= .001). This was due to an increase in non-CP motor impairment (13% in 1991 to 1992; 15% in 1997; 26% in 2005; χ
= 12.5;
< .001), not CP (11% in 1991 to 1992; 11% in 1997; 12% in 2005).
The rate of motor impairment in EP and/or ELBW children assessed at 8 years of age increased between eras, an increase caused by non-CP motor impairment.
Aim Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a significant disorder of childhood, characterized by core difficulties in learning fine and/or gross motor skills, and the attendant psychosocial ...problems. The aim of the meta‐analysis presented here (the first on DCD since 1998) was to summarize trends in the literature over the past 14 years and to identify and describe the main motor control and cognitive deficits that best discriminate children with DCD from those without.
Method A systematic review of the literature published between January 1997 and August 2011 was conducted. All available journal papers reporting a comparison between a group of children with DCD and a group of typically developing children on behavioural measures were included.
Results One hundred and twenty‐nine studies yielded 1785 effect sizes based on a total of 2797 children with DCD and 3407 typically developing children. Across all outcome measures, a moderate to large effect size was found, suggesting a generalized performance deficit in children with DCD. The pattern of deficits suggested several areas of pronounced difficulty, including internal (forward) modelling, rhythmic coordination, executive function, gait and postural control, catching and interceptive action, and aspects of sensoriperceptual function.
Interpretation The results suggest that the predictive control of action may be a fundamental disruption in DCD, along with the ability to develop stable coordination patterns. Implications for theory development and intervention are discussed.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are the most common pediatric diagnoses in the United States. In this perspective article, we propose that a diverse set of motor impairments are present in children ...and adults with ASDs. Specifically, we will discuss evidence related to gross motor, fine motor, postural control, and imitation/praxis impairments. Moreover, we propose that early motor delays within the first 2 years of life may contribute to the social impairments of children with ASDs; therefore, it is important to address motor impairments through timely assessments and effective interventions. Lastly, we acknowledge the limitations of the evidence currently available and suggest clinical implications for motor assessment and interventions in children with ASDs. In terms of assessment, we believe that comprehensive motor evaluations are warranted for children with ASDs and infants at risk for ASDs. In terms of interventions, there is an urgent need to develop novel embodied interventions grounded in movement and motor learning principles for children with autism.
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