Developmental Coordination Disorder

Bachelor’s In Education
BED/01/03
Module: Physical & Health Education
Assignment type - Research
Lecturer: Ms. Shahlina Iqbal
18/06/2022
Weerahannadige Wathsala Sandamali Bandara

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Contents
Definition..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Symptoms of Developmental Coordination Disorder..................................................................................................3
Problems in infants......................................................................................................................................................3
Problems in older children..........................................................................................................................................4
Movement and co-ordination problems.....................................................................................................................4
Additional problems....................................................................................................................................................4
Management strategies that support the child with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) (at preschool,
school and/or home)...................................................................................................................................................5
Types of therapies.......................................................................................................................................................6
Behaviour analysts..................................................................................................................................................6
Occupational therapists..........................................................................................................................................6
Paediatric specialists...............................................................................................................................................6
Physical therapists...................................................................................................................................................6
Psychologists...........................................................................................................................................................6
Speech and language therapists..............................................................................................................................6
Fine motor activities for DCD......................................................................................................................................7
Causes of DCD.............................................................................................................................................................7
Summary..................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Bibliography................................................................................................................................................................... 9

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Definition

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children's ability
to execute coordinated motor actions, resulting in slow, clumsy, or inaccurate motor performances and
learning difficulties (of new motor tasks or to adapt previously learned gestures to a modified or additional
constraint. (Maëlle Biotteau, 2020) It is a serious impairment in acquiring and executing age-appropriate
motor skills that interferes significantly with academic achievement and activities of daily living, in the
absence of underlying medical conditions such as cerebral palsy or mental retardation (Association,
2013)Developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD) can be also known as dyspraxia. Everyday skills
like tying shoelaces or catching a ball become can be frustrating. (Organization, November 1993)

Children with DCD have average intelligence but also have a motor coordination problem. They're unable to
get their hands, fingers, and other body parts moving together smoothly. They need a lot of time and effort
to learn new skills. (St Finbarrs Hospital, 2003)

About 5% to 6% of school students have DCD. Children born prematurely or at a low birth weight face a
higher risk.

Symptoms of Developmental Coordination Disorder

Early developmental milestones of crawling, walking, self-feeding and dressing may be delayed in young
children with DCD. Drawing, writing and performance in sports are also usually behind what is expected for
their age.

Although signs of the condition are present from an early age, children vary widely in their rate of
development. DCD can cause a wide range of problems. Some of these may be noticeable at an early age,
while others may only become obvious as the child gets older. This means a definite diagnosis of DCD does
not usually happen until a child with the condition is 5 years old or more. (NHS UK, n.d.)

Problems in infants

Delays in reaching normal developmental milestones can be an early sign of DCD in young children. For
example, the child may take slightly longer than expected to roll over, sit, crawl or walk. (Barwell, 2017)

The symptoms that could be noticed in the child are:

 shows unusual body positions (postures) during their 1st year

 has difficulty playing with toys that involve good co-ordination, such as stacking bricks
 has some difficulty learning to eat with cutlery

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Problems in older children

As the child gets older, they may develop more noticeable physical difficulties, plus problems in other areas.

Movement and co-ordination problems

Problems with movement and co-ordination are the main symptoms of DCD.

Children may have difficulty with:

 Playground activities such as hopping, jumping, running, and catching or kicking a ball. They often
avoid joining in because of their lack of co-ordination and may find physical education difficult
 walking up and down stairs
 writing, drawing and using scissors – their handwriting and drawings may appear scribbled and less
developed compared to other children their age
 getting dressed, doing up buttons and tying shoelaces
 keeping still – they may swing or move their arms and legs a lot

Additional problems

As well as difficulties related to movement and co-ordination, children with DCD can also have other
problems such as:

 difficulty in concentrating – they may have a poor attention span and find it difficult to focus on 1
thing for more than a few minutes
 difficulty in following instructions and copying information – they may do better at school in a 1-to-
1 situation than in a group, so they can be guided through work
 being poor at organising by themselves and getting things done
 being slow to pick up new skills – they need encouragement and repetition in order to help them
learn
 difficulty in making friends – they may avoid taking part in team games and may be bullied for being
"different" or clumsy
 behavioural problems – often stemming from a child's frustration with their symptoms
 low self-esteem
 Although children with DCD may have poor co-ordination and some additional problems, other
aspects of development – for example, thinking and talking – are usually unaffected. (NHS UK, n.d.)

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Management strategies that support the child with Developmental Coordination
Disorder (DCD) (at preschool, school and/or home)

 Encouragement to persist and attempt tasks.

 Provide opportunities to succeed by simplifying activities.
 Teach new skills in a step-by-step manner and keep the environment as predictable as possible
during teaching.
 Introduce new skills or environments on an individual basis before introducing peers.
 Use simple language and instructions.
 Provide visual as well as verbal cues.
 Provide extra time to complete tasks.
 Recognise and reinforce the child’s strengths.
 Appropriate set up for school desk.
 Set realistic and achievable goals for all task performance and completion.
 Make participation, not competition, the goal. (sense, n.d.)

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Types of therapies
Some of the healthcare professionals you may work with are:

Behaviour analysts

Behaviour analysts are trained in the science of behaviour. A type of therapy called applied behaviour
analysis (ABA) can help improve social and self-help skills, communication, and independence through
positive reinforcement strategies tailored to the individual’s needs. (O'Brien, n.d.)

Occupational therapists

This is the primary treatment for DCD. Occupational therapists can help people learn new ways of doing
things and to reach specific goals regarding performance of everyday activities. They start by doing an
evaluation to determine where a child has weaknesses. From that point onwards the therapist will come with
techniques and activities to address those weak areas. There are a number of ways to help kids with DCD
learn specific tasks and improve skills.

Paediatric specialists

These paediatricians specialize in a specific area of children’s health. For example, a developmental-
behavioural paediatrician has advanced training in medical and psychosocial aspects of child and adolescent
development.

Physical therapists

Physical therapists use hands-on care and education to help people improve movement and exercise.

Psychologists

Psychologists can help with a variety of issues, such as stress management, coping skills, and overall mental
health. They help to identify what child is going through to a certain extent.

Speech and language therapists

Speech and language therapists work with people who have difficulty making certain sounds, stuttering, and
other communication problems. Many of these children also have motor coordination difficulties that,
although not immediately evident, can be detected, if one knows what to look for.

(C.Missiuna, 1995)

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Fine motor activities for DCD

 Play dough / exercise putty Pinching, pulling, poking with index finger or thumb and
rolling small balls within fingers will help to develop finger
co-ordination and strength.
 Popping bubble wrap with the child’s index finger or thumb, again, good for
strengthening.
 Squeezing clothes pegs Great for developing pincer strength needed for holding a
pencil.
 Scrunching stiff paper and squirt guns will help to develop whole hand strength.
 Wringing out a wet sponge.
 Stretching a rubber band around fingers.
 Construction and wind-up toys Good for strength and finger co-ordination also good
for visual perception and developing imagination.
 Ripping small pieces of paper between thumb and index finger.
 Making things with pipe cleaners.
 Helping with cooking Kneading dough, stirring etc. is a great way to develop hand
skills.

Causes of DCD

The possible causes could be as follows.

 being born prematurely, before the 37th week of pregnancy

 being born with a low birth weight
 having a family history of DCD, although it is not clear exactly which genes may be involved in the
condition
 The mother drinking alcohol or taking illegal drugs while pregnant (NHS UK, n.d.)

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Summary

Dyspraxia is a brain-based motor disorder. It affects fine and gross motor skills, motor planning, and
coordination. Although it can affect cognitive skills, it’s not related to intelligence (Pietrangelo, 2022). A
child with DCD may appear awkward and clumsy as they may bump into objects, drop things and fall over a
lot. But this in itself isn't necessarily a sign of DCD, as many children who appear clumsy actually have all
the normal movement (motor) skills for their age. A child cannot be diagnosed with DCD until it is done
under a doctor. Children with DCD would simply outgrow their motor difficulties; research tells us that
DCD persists throughout adolescence into adulthood. DCD is thought to be around 3 or 4 times more
common in boys than girls and the condition sometimes runs in families. Children with DCD can and do
learn to perform certain motor tasks well, however, they have difficulty when faced with new, age-
appropriate ones and are at risk for secondary difficulties that result from their motor challenges. Although
there is currently no cure for DCD, early intervention and treatment may help to reduce the emotional,
physical and social consequences that are often associated with this disorder. A child with DCD requires a
lot of support and encouragement. They often have poor self-esteem and low academic performance.
Boosting their confidence will help them learn better. A child with DCD may also avoid sports because of
frustration and humiliation. Physical activity is essential for good health and they should be encouraged to
do it. Since DCD is a medical disorder. Motor incoordination does not go away. It's something that should
be lived with and treated for optimal outcomes. This is one of the key areas in which parents should focus
during the growth of a child. It is needless to say that parents spend most part of a child’s early stage and are
in a better position to observe in order to have a clear grasp of the progress. Ultimately a joint effort could
well assist to overcome such a syndrome as there cannot be an ideal combination than the parents/teachers
as they spend and move closely with the kid than any other.

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Bibliography

Association, A. P., 2013. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th edition ed. s.l.:s.n.

Barwell, J., 2017. Healthline medical network, s.l.: s.n.

C.Missiuna, H. J. P. a., 1995. An international consensus on children with developmental coordination disorder.
Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, Volume 62, pp. 3-6.

Maëlle Biotteau, .. Y. C., 2020. Neurocognitive Development: Disorders and Disabilities. Handbook of Clinical
Neurology,.

NHS UK, n.d. [Online]

Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/developmental-coordination-disorder-dyspraxia/

O'Brien, J., n.d. behaviour analysts. ABA Journal.

Organization, W. H., November 1993. ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders (The): Diagnostic
Criteria for Research. s.l.:s.n.

Pietrangelo, A., 2022. What Is Dyspraxia?.

St Finbarrs Hospital, C., 2003. Dyspraxia/ DCD Association. Cork in Co-operation with DCD Unit,.

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