What is developmental coordination disorder

  Developmental Coordination Disorder Developmental coordination disorder is one of the most common disorders seen in child developmental behavior clinics and was often referred to as “awkward child syndrome” in the past, with a prevalence of about 5 to 10%. Studies have shown that 30% of children with learning disabilities and 5% of children with normal learning have movement problems.  Developmental coordination disorder is characterized by motor skill deficits, with deficits in multiple motor control aspects such as visual perception, proprioception and kinesthesia, as well as deficits in multiple motor skills such as fine motor, ball movement (gross motor) and balance. Children with DCD usually have the following behavioral manifestations: clumsy and unkempt behavior; difficulty in fine and gross motor control; poor body awareness and postural stability; difficulty in reading and writing and odd penmanship, as well as cognitive impairment such as attention deficit and emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression, and poor social adjustment.  Developmental coordination disorder does not disappear with age, but with training, children will make significant progress in familiar physical activities and daily life. Parents should bring their children for professional evaluation and understanding of their abilities and potential as early as possible, so that they can receive appropriate training as soon as possible.