Developmental coordination disorder is a condition that
manifests in childhood and is defined as developmental
deficiencies “…in the acquisition and execution of
coordinated motor skills…manifested by clumsiness and
...
Developmental coordination disorder is a condition that
manifests in childhood and is defined as developmental
deficiencies “…in the acquisition and execution of
coordinated motor skills…manifested by clumsiness and
slowness or inaccuracy of performance of motor skills”
(American Psychological Association, 2013). These
deficiencies in fine and gross motor skills can cause
negative effects on the child’s social skills, academic
performance, personal achievements, and activities of
daily living. This condition is a neurodevelopmental
disorder and it is seen in 5 to 6 percent of school age
children (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2014).
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENTAL
COORDINATION DISORDER
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Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is frequently seen,
up to 50%, in children with Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) or dyslexia. It affects both fine (small muscle
movement like writing, or picking-up items), and gross motor
skills (large muscle movement like jumping, or walking) (Sadock
et al., 2014).
The pathophysiology, or cause, of this disorder, is thought to be
associated with low birth weight, being premature, or if a parent
also had the disorder (genetic link) (Rutter et al., 2008).
There may also be a sex-related link, as it is seen more often in boys than girls, and
is even more frequently seen in children who begin to walk later than 12-months-old
(Harris et al., 2015). Scientific studies have shown that children who have DCD may
have an impaired cerebral hemisphere (the part of the brain responsible for muscle
function). Which misfires signals to the body’s muscles, causing poor coordination
(Vaivre-Douret et al., 2016); or impaired Mirror Neurons of the brain, brain cells
which react to impulses, and which are responsible for executing, or carrying-out,
those impulses, such as seeing an object, and wanting to pick it up (Lust et al., 2019).
In children with DCD, these Mirror neurons don’t fully communicate with the body’s
muscles. While no exact cause of DCD has been discovered yet, understanding how
the disorder affects your child can help you help them.
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