Developmental Coordination Disorder

What Is Developmental Coordination Disorder?

Developmental coordination disorder is a motor skill disorder that causes problems with movement and coordination. It is not related to intelligence, autism, or physical disorders such as cerebral palsy. DCD affects areas of the brain that learn or remember movements, so each motor task may seem new, no matter how many times it is repeated. Movements do not become automatic or feel normal or typical to the child. Children with DCD might struggle to imitate movements or learn new motor skills. They also have a hard time keeping up with the speed of movements compared with other children their age.

Boys are diagnosed with DCD slightly more often than girls. Children with DCD also may have other separate conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and speech/language impairments. They also may have self-esteem, behavior, and social and/or emotional problems. Because movement is so hard for them, they may develop poor health. They may have poor fitness, be overweight, and have heart disease due to inactivity.

DCD continues throughout a person’s life. However, children and teens can improve their condition with the help of physical therapists and other health care providers. Children with DCD can learn to use new movement strategies. With guidance, they can find the right physical activities, sports, and job activities that lead to a positive and fulfilling life.

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Signs and Symptoms

Often, parents spot signs and symptoms of DCD in their child before anyone else. When they notice their baby is behind other children in movement skills, such as sitting up or learning to walk, they should report these concerns to a health care professional. However, sometimes signs and symptoms of DCD are not caught until a child starts school. Teachers may see that the child cannot play at recess or in physical education classes in the same way that other children do. They also may observe that it takes the child longer to complete schoolwork. Children with DCD show a lack of interest in playing with other children.

Children with DCD may have difficulty when they try to:

• Run, skip, jump, hop on one foot, do jumping jacks, or perform other physical activities.

• Use hand-held objects such as crayons or scissors.

• Throw or catch a ball accurately.

• Follow directions for movements that involve more than one step. (When they make a mistake or can’t do the next step, they will start all over again rather than with the most recent action taken.

How Can Our Physical Therapist Help?

Your child’s first physical therapy session will begin with a complete evaluation. Our PT may:

• Take a full medical history. They will ask questions about the mother’s pregnancy and the child’s birth and development (the age the child sat up, crawled, walked), the general health of the child, and the parent's concerns.

• Assess the child’s muscle strength, tone, flexibility, and balance.

• Test the child’s movement skills, such as skipping or walking in a straight line.

• Screen for problems using their hands, vision, language skills, intellect, and other areas of development

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Our PTs work with children with DCD to improve muscle strength, coordination, and balance. They will also help them develop skills to improve their daily activities and quality of life. Your child’s program may include treatments to:

• Improve strength. Our PT will teach you and your child exercises to increase muscle strength. They will identify games and fun tasks that improve strength, reduce obesity, and improve heart health.

• Improve balance. Our PT may teach your child exercises to help improve their balance, such as standing on one foot.

• Improve body awareness. Our PT might have your child play in obstacle courses to help them learn how to plan movements while having fun.

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