Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Unveiling Issues Limiting Participation of Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: From Early Identification to Insights for Intervention

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a motor skill disorder affecting motor development in children. Part I employed a quantitative approach to validate the DCDQ-C. A total of 123 children in mainstream schools were recruited. Reliabilty analysis, Rasch model analysis, and exploratory factor analysis were conducted. Part II tested the hypothesis that the correlation between movement skills and sensory processing patterns of children with motor coordination problems was different to that for children without motor coordination problems. Fisher’s r-to-z transformation was used to compare the correlation between the two groups. Part III used a case study approach to describe the activity participation of children with DCD. The motor performance, sensory problems, self-efficacy, and participation of the children at home, at school, and in the community were examined thoroughly. The DCDQ-C was confirmed to have favourable internal reliability and construct validity. The factor structured identified in this study was the same as the original scale. Through comparing the significant correlations between the DCD and typically developing groups, significant correlations were evidenced between poor fine motor and handwriting skills and low registration sensory processing pattern in the DCD group. The commonly reported difficulties among children with DCD were low emotional efficacy, low social self-efficacy, and difficulty participating in home- and community-based activities requiring fine motor, communication, or organizational skills. This study is significant as it assists therapists, teachers, and parents to a greater understanding of the underlying issues that may interfere with children’s participation at home, at school, and in the community.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, S., & Casey, J. (2017). Developmental coordination disorders and sensory processing and integration: Incidence, associations and co-morbidities. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 80(9), 549–557.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, A. E., Lane, A., Angley, M. T., & Young, R. L. (2008). The relationship between sensory processing patterns and behavioural responsiveness in autistic disorder: A pilot study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(5), 867–875.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cacola, P. M., Ibana, M., Romero, M., & Chuang, J. (2016). The effectiveness of a group motor skill intervention program in children with developmental coordination disorder: Program frequency matters. Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences & Practice, 14(1), 1–8 8p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cairney, J., Missiuna, C., Veldhuizen, S., & Wilson, B. (2008). Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the developmental coordination disorder questionnaire for parents (DCD-Q): Results from a community based study of school-aged children. Human Movement Science, 27(6), 932–940.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Census and Statistics Department. (2014). Special topics report : Persons with disabilities and chronic diseases. (No. 62). HKSAR: Social Analysis and Research Section.

  • Chan, D. Y. (2007). The application of cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance (CO-OP) in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in hong kong: A pilot study. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 17(2), 39–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, H., & Cohn, E. S. (2003). Social participation for children with developmental coordination disorder: Conceptual, evaluation and intervention considerations. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 23(4), 61–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, P. P., & Siu, A. M. (2009). A comparison of patterns of sensory processing in children with and without developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30(6), 1468–1480.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, P. P., & Siu, A. M. (2010). Chinese sensory profile: Users' manual. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Occupational Therapy Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, W. (1999). Sensory profile: Users’ manual. San Antonio: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, W. (2001). The sensations of everyday life: Empirical, theoretical, and pragmatic considerations. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55(6), 608–620.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, W. (2007). Supporting children to participate successfully in everyday life by using sensory processing knowledge. Infants & Young Children, 20(2), 84–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, W. (2008). Technical report: the Sensory Profile. San Antonio: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engel-Yeger, B., Hus, S., & Rosenblum, S. (2012). Age effects on sensory-processing abilities and their impact on handwriting. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(5), 264–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geuze, R. H. (2003). Static balance and developmental coordination disorder. Human Movement Science, 22(4-5), 527–548.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, S. E., Sugden, D. A., & Barnett, A. L. (2007). Movement assessment battery for children-2. London: Harcourt Assessment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hilton, C., Graver, K., & LaVesser, P. (2007). Relationship between social competence and sensory processing in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 1(2), 164–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hung, W. W., & Pang, M. Y. (2010). Effects of group-based versus individual-based exercise training on motor performance in children with developmental coordination disorder: A randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 42(2), 122–128.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ismail, R., & Noh, M. (2015). A tale of two construct validation analysis: Rasch model and exploratory factor analysis approach for three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) among malaysian male workers. The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 70(3), 169–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, H. H., Bo, G. H., & Yoo, B. K. (2012). The effects of a sensory integration programme with applied interactive metronome training for children with developmental disabilities: A pilot study. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 22(1), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hkjot.2012.05.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, K. P., & Rudney, S. G. (2010). Performance challenges for children and adolescents with difficulty processing and integrating sensory information: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64(3), 430–442.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Labour and Welfare Bureau. (2014). Hong kong rehabilitation programme plan. HKSAR.

  • Linacre, J. (2017). A user’s guide to winsteps ministeps rasch-model computer programs: Program manual 3.93. 0. Retrieved from http://www.winsteps.com/manuals.htm.

  • Magalhaes, L., Cardoso, A., & Missiuna, C. (2011). Activities and participation in children with developmental coordination disorder: A systematic review. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32(4), 1309–1316.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • May-Benson, T. A., & Koomar, J. A. (2010). Systematic review of the research evidence examining the effectiveness of interventions using a sensory integrative approach for children. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64(3), 403–414.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, L., Polatajko, H., Missiuna, C., Mandich, A., & Macnab, J. (2001). A pilot trial of a cognitive treatment for children with developmental coordination disorder. Human Movement Science, 20(1), 183–210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Missiuna, C., Gaines, R., Mclean, J., DeLaat, D., Egan, M., & Soucie, H. (2008). Description of children identified by physicians as having developmental coordination disorder. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 50(11), 839–844.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Niemeijer, A. S., Smits-Engelsman, B. C., & Schoemaker, M. M. (2007). Neuromotor task training for children with developmental coordination disorder: A controlled trial. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 49(6), 406–411.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Niklasson, M., Norlander, T., Niklasson, I., & Rasmussen, P. (2017). Catching-up: Children with developmental coordination disorder compared to healthy children before and after sensorimotor therapy. PLoS One, 12(10), e0186126.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Piek, J. P., & Dyck, M. J. (2004). Sensory-motor deficits in children with developmental coordination disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autistic disorder. Human Movement Science, 23(3), 475–488.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pless, M., & Carlsson, M. (2000). Effects of motor skill intervention on developmental coordination disorder: A meta-analysis. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 17(4), 381–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polatajko, H. J., Mandich, A. D., Miller, L. T., & Macnab, J. J. (2001). Cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance (CO-OP) part II the evidence. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 20(2-3), 83–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poole, J. L. (1991). Application of motor learning principles in occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 45(6), 531–537.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Portney, L. G., & Watkins, M. P. (2000). Foundations of clinical research: Applications to practice. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poulsen, A. A., Johnson, H., & Ziviani, J. M. (2011). Participation, self-concept and motor performance of boys with developmental coordination disorder: A classification and regression tree analysis approach. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 58(2), 95–102 8p. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1630.2010.00880.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Poulsen, A. A., & Ziviani, J. M. (2004). Can I play too? physical activity engagement of children with developmental coordination disorders. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. Revue Canadienne D'Ergotherapie, 71(2), 100–107.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, S., Bendixen, R. M., Lawrence, T., & Lane, S. J. (2011). A pilot study examining activity participation, sensory responsiveness, and competence in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(11), 1496–1506.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rivard, L., Missiuna, C., McCauley, D., & Cairney, J. (2014). Descriptive and factor analysis of the developmental coordination disorder questionnaire ( DCDQ'07) in a population-based sample of children with and without developmental coordination disorder. Child: Care, Health and Development, 40(1), 42–49 8p. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2012.01425.x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoemaker, M. M., Flapper, B., Verheij, N. P., Wilson, B. N., Reinders-Messelink, H. A., & de Kloet, A. (2006). Evaluation of the developmental coordination disorder questionnaire as a screening instrument. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 48(8), 668-673.

  • Schott, N., Alof, V., Hultsch, D., & Meermann, D. (2007). Physical fitness in children with developmental coordination disorder. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 78(5), 438–450.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smits-Engelsman, B. C., Blank, R., van der Kaay, Anne-Claire C, Mosterd-van der Meijs, R., Vlugt-van den Brand, E., Polatajko, H. J., & Wilson, P. H. (2013). Efficacy of interventions to improve motor performance in children with developmental coordination disorder: A combined systematic review and meta-analysis. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 55(3), 229-237.

  • Sugden, D. (2007). Current approaches to intervention in children with developmental coordination disorder. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 49(6), 467–471.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tal-Saban, M., Ornoy, A., & Parush, S. (2014). Young adults with developmental coordination disorder: A longitudinal study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(3), 307–316 10p. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.009563.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tam, C., & Ng, Y. (2009). Preliminary study to explore the effectiveness of sensory integration intervention for preschoolers with sensory modulation dysfunction. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 19(2), A2. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1569-1861(10)70010-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng, Y., Tsai, C., Chen, F., & Konczak, J. (2017). Position sense dysfunction affects proximal and distal arm joints in children with developmental coordination disorder. Journal of Motor Behavior, 1–10.

  • Van der Linde, B. W., Van Netten, J. J., Otten, B., Postema, K., Geuze, R. H., & Schoemaker, M. M. (2015). Activities of daily living in children with developmental coordination disorder: Performance, learning, and participation. Physical Therapy, 95(11), 1496–1506 11p. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20140211.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Visser, J. (2003). Developmental coordination disorder: A review of research on subtypes and comorbidities. Human Movement Science, 22(4), 479–493.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, B. N. (2010). Developmental coordination disorder questionnaire - Chinese version. Taiwan: Psychological Publishing Co., Ltd..

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, B. N., Crawford, S. G., Green, D., Roberts, G., Aylott, A., & Kaplan, B. J. (2009). Psychometric properties of the revised developmental coordination disorder questionnaire. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 29(2), 182–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2001). International classification of functioning, disability and health: ICF. World Health Organization.

  • Wuang, Y., Su, J., & Su, C. (2012). Reliability and responsiveness of the movement assessment battery for Children–Second edition test in children with developmental coordination disorder. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 54(2), 160–165.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, R. K. (2013). Case study research: Design and methods. Thousand Oaks: Sage publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmer, M., Desch, L., Rosen, L. D., Bailey, M. L., Becker, D., Culbert, T. P., et al. (2012). Sensory integration therapies for children with developmental and behavioral disorders. Pediatrics, 129(6), 1186–1189.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zoia, S., Barnett, A., Wilson, P., & Hill, E. (2006). Developmental coordination disorder: Current issues. Child: Care, Health and Development, 32(6), 613–618.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwicker, J. G., Harris, S. R., & Klassen, A. F. (2013). Quality of life domains affected in children with developmental coordination disorder: A systematic review. Child: Care, Health and Development, 39(4), 562–580 19p. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2012.01379.x.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Internal Research Grant – Start-up Grant of the Education University of Hong Kong, and the Research Support Scheme 2017/2018 of the Department of Special Education and Counselling at the Education University of Hong Kong.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong

    Eva Yin-han Chung

Authors
  1. Eva Yin-han Chung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eva Yin-han Chung.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Conflict of Interest

The author declares there is no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chung, E.Yh. Unveiling Issues Limiting Participation of Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: From Early Identification to Insights for Intervention. J Dev Phys Disabil 30, 373–389 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-018-9591-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-018-9591-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation