Occupational Therapists are skilled in the observation of fine and gross motor task performance and can assist in accurately identifying and assessing children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Taking a holistic approach, the DCD or Dyspraxia assessment incorporates all aspects of childhood activities, from physical difficulties to social or behavioural issues that are currently having a detrimental effect on their ability to perform in school and at home.
Once other medical and neurological explanations for the child’s clumsiness have been ruled out, an assessment would be helpful in order to confirm the presence of a motor coordination disorder, provide information on the severity of the difficulties and determine the impact of the motor coordination disorder on your child’s daily functioning.
DCD can impact on how your child performs in the following areas
• Self-care activities, such as dressing, hygiene, eating, toileting, bathing
• Leisure activities, such as sport arts and crafts, extra-curricular activities
• Playing with friends and family outings
• School activities, such as academic progress, social relationships, following classroom routines and completing homework
When a child is suspected of having a motor coordination difficulty, it is critical that they are seen by a family doctor to ensure that the movement problems are not due to any other physical, neurological, or behavioral disorders and to determine whether more than one disorder may be present.