Table 1. Diagnostic Criteria and Examples of Symptoms of DCD.

Diagnostic Manual / Criteria	Practical Example	Recommendations
DSM 5: Developmental Coordination Disorder
(A) the acquisition and execution of motor skills and related coordination are below what is expected based on age	The individual might have taken longer to learn to crawl, walk, ride a bike, write, kick a football, climb or descend stairs, etc. They might have also learned motor skills but struggle to execute them in a coordinated fashion.	In children, the MABC-2 (Henderson et al., 2007) can be used to objectively assess motor functions in comparison to same-aged peers (in a percentile score based on age-band). In adults, MABC-2 can be used loosely, a self-report by the patient of novel motor experiences in adulthood might be considered, e.g., a new skill in the workplace or school: typing, driving.
(B) the deficits of motor skill and coordination significantly interfere with daily life in the domains of self-care, scholastics, work, leisure, and play	The individual might avoid socialization, or team sports, in fear of embarrassment for lack of coordination.	Screen for impact of motor skills on daily life, and other psychosocial factor (e.g., co-occurring anxiety, depression).
(C) the symptoms began in childhood	–	If patient is an adult at the time of assessment, the Adult DCD Checklist (ADC; Kirby et al., 2010) section 1 can be used as a proxy for symptoms in childhood.
(D) the deficits cannot be better explained by any other condition	Patient should not have Cerebral Palsy, Huntington’s Disease, acquired brain injury, difficulties related to surgery, etc.	Complete diagnostic history, including physical, mental, and genetic conditions, should be considered.
ICD-10: Specific Developmental Disorder of Motor Function (F82)
(1) A disorder with primary deficits of motor coordination	As listed in DSM 5 criterion (A) above.	As listed in DSM 5 criterion (A) above.
(2) Impairments in fine and gross motor coordination	General difficulties might involve fine motor tasks such as trouble gripping objects, poor handwriting, challenges typing on a keyboard. Difficulties might also involve gross motor functions, such as, trouble walking in a coordinated manner, frequently tripping over or bumping into objects, difficulties kicking or catching a ball.	As listed in DSM 5 criterion (A) above.
(3) Not better explained by an intellectual disability or acquired neurological disorder	Patient should not have Disorder of Intellectual Development, Cerebral Palsy, Huntington’s Disease, acquired brain injury, difficulties related to surgery, etc.	As listed in DSM criterion (D) above. Potential rationale for IQ testing.

Note. The ICD-11 “Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder” lists symptoms entirely in line with the DSM 5, adding that symptoms must begin in childhood. Notably, the different name contradicts nomenclature standards set out by DCD experts (see Blank et al., 2019) and the patient preferred name “Dyspraxia.” Diagnostic criteria are summarized from the latest guidelines of each diagnostic manual (DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2022; ICD-11; World Health Organization, 2020). In the new DSM-5-TR, DCD is listed under a further subcategory entitled “motor disorders.