Table 1.
Diagnostic criteria for developmental coordination disorder
| DSM-5 diagnostic criteria | How is this criterion assessed? |
|---|---|
| A. Acquisition and execution of coordinated motor skills are substantially below expectations for a child’s chronological age and opportunities for motor skill learning. Difficulties may include ‘clumsy’, slow, or inaccurate motor skill performance (e.g., when catching an object, using scissors, handwriting, bike riding, or participating in sports). | An occupational or physical therapist administers a standardized motor assessment, usually the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2)(5)* |
| B. Motor skills deficit significantly and persistently interferes with activities of daily living appropriate for age, and impacts school work, prevocational and vocational activities, leisure, and play. | In addition to history-taking, parent questionnaires such as the DCDQ (5–15 years) or Little DCDQ (3–4 years) (6) can help determine the functional impact of motor difficulties. Scores are interpreted as ‘indicative of DCD’, ‘suspect DCD’, or ‘probably not DCD’. |
| C. Onset of symptoms in the early developmental period. | Conduct developmental history. Motor milestones are often attained by the age expected, but listen for difficulty in learning motor skills. |
| D. Motor skills deficit is not better explained by intellectual disability, visual impairment, or a neurological condition affecting movement (e.g., cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy). | Ensure that vision has been assessed. Conduct a neurological exam. Standardized IQ testing by a psychologist is required in some cases (1). |
Adapted with permission from reference (2).
*MABC-2 total score ≤16th percentile may be indicative of DCD (≥6 years). However, a child of this age scoring ≤5th percentile on one of the sub-domains (e.g., manual dexterity, balance), regardless of the total score, also meets Criterion A (1,10). For children ages 3–5 years old, an MABC-2 total score of ≤5th percentile is required to meet Criterion A, with two assessments administered at least 3 months apart (1,10).