Children with developmental coordination disorders: a review of approaches to assessment and intervention

Front Neurol. 2024 May 23:15:1359955. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1359955. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in motor skills, with gross and fine motor dysfunction being the main symptom. This condition greatly impairs children's daily life, learning, and social interaction. Symptoms typically appear during preschool or school age, and if left untreated, they can persist into adulthood. Thus, early assessment and intervention are crucial to improve the prognosis. This study aims to review the existing literature on DCD, providing a comprehensive overview of the assessment for children with DCD in terms of body functions and structures, activities and participation, and environmental factors within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health - Children and Youth (ICF-CY). Additionally, specific rehabilitation interventions will be described, offering valuable insights for the clinical assessment and intervention of children with DCD.

Keywords: child; developmental coordination disorder; international classification of functioning, disability and health; physical and rehabilitation medicine; rehabilitation.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The author disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the publication of this article: this work was supported by the Scientific Research Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanghai Hongkou District Health and Wellness Committee [grant number HKOGYOY-ZY-2023-24]; the Research Launch Project of The Fourth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University (grant number sykyqd02001).