The Consensus

Diagnosis-Criteria A and B

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is evident when there is a marked impairment in the performance of motor skills. The marked impairment has a significant, negative impact on activities of daily living – such as dressing, feeding, riding a bicycle – and/or on academic achievement such as through poor handwriting skills. Core aspects of the disorder include difficulties with gross and/or fine motor skills, which may be apparent in locomotion, agility, manual dexterity, complex skills (e.g. ball games) and /or balance.

The long-term prognosis of individuals with DCD is variable; a small proportion do appear to improve but more often adolescence and adulthood are characterised by continuing motor difficulties in addition to social and educational problems, medical and psychiatric consequences. The problems experienced are severe and persistent and exist despite appropriate movement learning experience. As a consequence of these difficulties, and without adequate support and/or specific intervention within the family, school and work environments, an individual with DCD will be placed at a significant disadvantage.

DCD is an idiopathic condition. Its onset is apparent in the early years but would not typically be diagnosed before 5 years of age. It has a varying, but significant impact throughout the lifespan. The difficulties described here as DCD are recognised across culture, race, socio-economic status and gender.