Cooccurrence of Problems in Activity Level, Attention, Psychosocial Adjustment, Reading and Writing in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder
Resource
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION RESEARCH v.30 n.4 pp.327-332
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION RESEARCH
Journal Volume
v.30
Journal Issue
n.4
Pages
327-332
Date Issued
2007
Date
2007
Author(s)
TSENG, MEI-HUI
HOWE, TSU-HSIN
CHUANG, I-CHING
HSIEH, CHING-LIN
Abstract
The purpose of this paper was to investigate the cooccurrence of problems in activity level, attention, reading, writing and psychosocial adjustment of children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). A parent- report questionnaire, the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire - Chinese version (DCDQ-C), was used to screen first to third graders from 13 mainstream schools in Taipei. Two standardized motor tests were then administered to those who scored below 10% on the DCDQ-C. Tests of activity level, attention, reading, writing and psychosocial adjustment were then administered to this sample. Thirty-eight children identified as DCD, 32 as suspect for DCD and 82 as normal comparison were included in the final sample. Multivariate analysis of variance comparing the three groups (DCD, suspect DCD, and comparison ) revealed that both children with DCD and suspect for DCD obtained significantly poorer scores on measures of attention and reading, and were more hyperactive than comparison children. Children with DCD and suspect for DCD were also reported to have more internalizing and social problems than children without motor problems. No significant differences, however, were noted between children with different degree of motor coordination problems ( categorized as DCD and suspect for DCD) on any measure. Furthermore, a high percentage of children in both the DCD and suspect groups fell in the clinical range of attention, activity level and psychosocial adjustment problems. The results revealed a high risk for these problems in nonreferred children with motor coordination problems. The high percentage of clinical range behavioral problems warrants attention of clinicians who work with children with motor coordination difficulties to the need to promote early identification and referral.
Subjects
comorbidity
developmental coordination disorder
psychosocial problems