When a child has problems with coordination and organisation

Children with DCD have difficulties in motor coordination and processing information, which can lead to learning problems. — Positive Parenting

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a lifelong condition, which was previously known as dyspraxia.

It is a well-recognised neurodevelopmental disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

A child with DCD may have difficulty in motor coordination, as well as organising, planning and executing tasks.

Speech and language development is often affected and they frequently have difficulties with processing information.

Nevertheless, DCD should not prevent your child from leading a healthy and happy life.

If left unchecked, however, symptoms of DCD can lead to learning difficulties and low self- esteem in adolescence and adulthood.

So, how do you recognise if your child has DCD?

There are several signs, including a delay in achieving milestones (crawling, walking, etc), having temper tantrums, and challenges with both gross and fine motor skills.

Ask yourself: Does your child have difficulty dressing himself? Is he clumsy and often trips or knocks into objects or spills drinks?

A child with DCD may experience challenges in:

• Learning
• Socialisation
• Play
• Daily living skills
• Planning and organising.

A child with DCD may also have other conditions with overlapping symptoms, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, childhood apraxia of speech (difficulty in correctly and consistently saying what they want to say), dyscalculia (difficulty in understanding mathematics) or dyslexia (difficulty in reading).

What can you do as a parent?

There is no one solution; instead, you must tailor your methods to your child’s needs.

You are also likely to need the assistance from a combination of healthcare experts, including an occupational therapist, speech therapist, and educational or clinical psychologist.

At home, you can encourage your child to participate in physical activities such as swimming, basketball and cycling (where enjoyment, rather than proficiency, is key); provide your child with clothing that is simple to put on and take off (e.g. T-shirts, drawstring pants and shoes with velcro); teach your child to improve their ability to plan and organise motor skills by giving them simple daily tasks, such as setting the table or making a sandwich; and always recognise and reinforce your child’s strengths.

Remember that helping your child with DCD is going to take a lot of patience, planning, time and practice.

Don’t expect to accomplish too much all at once, and remember to ask for help when you need it.

With early intervention and the right therapies, your child can improve their organisational and motor skills, and live life to the fullest.

Look out for online resources and communities that can assist you along the way too.

Good luck!

Dr Rajini Sarvananthan is a consultant developmental paediatrician. This article is courtesy of the Malaysian Paediatric Association’s Positive Parenting programme in collaboration with expert partners. For further information, please email [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.