Clinical Features and Effects of Occupational Therapy in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical features of children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and the effects of occupational therapy. METHOD: Seventeen children were diagnosed with DCD using by Bruininks-Osteretsky test of motor proficiency (BOTMP). To investigate the clinical features, neurological examinations such as soft neurological signs, speech evaluation, cognitive assessment, and psychiatric evaluation were performed on the 17 participants. Among the participants, 8 children had occupational therapy. BOTMP and cognitive function were evaluated both prior to and 6 months after the intervention. RESULTS: Children with DCD showed various soft neurological signs and co-morbidities such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental language disorder, and emotional problems. The cognitive assessment revealed disproportionately low performance IQ for all subjects. After occupational therapy, scores for BOTMP and performance IQ increased significantly. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of DCD are heterogeneous and occupational therapy focused on motor proficiency was effective. This study supports raising interest in and attention on children with motor coordination difficulties.