ABSTRACT
Prevalence estimates range from 2–20 per cent of children which, in common with many other neurodevelopmental disorders, reflect the varying level of strictness applied to selection criteria. In addition to a tendency to emotional immaturity, there appears to be a variety of secondary socio-emotional and behavioural problems that may result from the individual’s attempts to cope with the shame and humiliation that the less physically adept so often experience in childhood. Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) often display features of other conditions such as autism spectrum disorder syndrome, ADHD, and learning and language disorders. While difficulties of executive functioning are likely to constrain the ability of children with DCD to improve their motor skill, and make these increasingly automatic, it is not clear whether a problem in the area should be considered as a core component of DCD or as a comorbid, undermining condition.
