Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

Developmental Coordination Disorder

A child learning how to tie his shoelaces.

What is DCD?

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood characterised by significant impairment in motor coordination that interferes with activities of daily living. Children with DCD can experience numerous functional difficulties including difficulty dressing, handwriting, drawing, scissor skills, colouring in and playing team sports

A child slouching over the desk while writing.

DCD & Handwriting

Handwriting is a challenging task for students with DCD.

Some of the common issues you may see in the handwriting of a student with DCD are:

• slow handwriting

• when fast writing is required, writing quality drops considerably

• poor organisation of space on the page

• difficulty with appropriate letter sizing

• difficulty understanding the implicit rules of handwriting, such as knowing where to start forming a particular letter

• lots of erase marks or words written over

• difficulty copying from the board

Diagnosis of DCD

The specific DSM-5 criteria for DCD are as follows:

Coordinated motor skills are substantially below age expectation and opportunity for skill learning and use.
The motor skills deficits significantly and persistently interferes with activities of daily living and impacts academic/school productivity, leisure and play.
Onset of symptoms is in the early developmental period.
The motor skills deficits are not better explained by intellectual disability or visual impairment and are not attributable to a neurologic condition.

A medical doctor must confirm criteria 4, and give the formal diagnosis of DCD.

DCD Assessment

Assessment to explore whether a DCD diagnosis is indicated includes the following standardised and non-standardised assessment tools which will help to address the first 3 criteria listed above.

Movement Assessment Battery for Children3 - Test and Checklists
Beery Visual Motor Integration
Detailed Assessment of Speed of Handwriting or Evaluation Tool of Children's Handwriting (depending on age of child)
Developmental Coordination Questionnaire
Typing Speed Test