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DCD (developmental coordination disorder)
Children with developmental coordination disorder (DSM-IV classification) or specific developmental disorder of motor function (ICD-10 classification F82)
 
If children are slow in their motor development, or if they do not have the motor skills that are normal for the child’s age,which is not due to a medical condition,this may be called developmental co-ordination disorder.
Examples of such motor problems:
  • late in reaching motor milestones such as learning to stand and walk, riding a bicycle, tying laces, doing up buttons, catching a ball
  • often stumbling, clumsy
  • a lack of fluency in movement, messy writing
Age:
DCD can be diagnosed from the age of 4 to 6 years. It may persist into adult life.
In About 50% of the children (some) improvement occurs during development. There is some evidence that this may happen during puberty in many such cases.
Early diagnosis before the age of 4 is unreliable because motor development is variable, and may differ largely between children.
What is DCD? source: http://www.ppsw.rug.nl/~dcd/
Developmental coordination disorder
source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001533.htm
Definition   
Developmental coordination disorder is a childhood disorder characterized by poor coordination and clumsiness.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors   
Roughly 6% of school-age children have some degree of developmental coordination disorder. Children with this disorder may trip over their own feet, run into other children, have trouble holding objects, and have an unsteady gait.
Developmental coordination disorder may appear in conjunction with other learning disorders or may occur alone. Communication disorders and disorder of written expression are two of the learning disorders often associated with this condition.
Symptoms   
Children with developmental coordination disorder have difficulties with motor coordination as compared to other children the same age. Some of the common symptoms include the following:
  • Developmental delays in sitting up, crawling, and walking.
  • Deficits in handwriting
  • Problems in gross motor coordination (jumping, hopping, standing on one foot)
  • Problems in fine motor coordination (tying shoelaces, tapping one finger to another)
  • Clumsiness
Signs and tests   
Physical causes and other types of learning disabilities need to be ruled out before the diagnosis can be confirmed.
Treatment   
Physical education and perceptual motor training are the best approach for treating coordination disorder.
Expectations (prognosis)   
The degree of recovery depends on the severity of the disorder.
Complications   
  • Repeated injuries
  • Learning problems
  • Low self-esteem resulting from poor ability at sports and teasing by other children
Calling your health care provider   
Call for an appointment with a health care provider if you are concerned about your child's development.
Prevention   
Affected families should make every effort to recognize existing problems early and have them treated. Early treatment is beneficial to future success.
 
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Laatst bijgewerkt: 03 juni 2008