Developmental coordination disorder: Current issues.

The concept of a specific disorder of motor function has been recognized for at least a century, with a gradual increase in awareness of this condition among health professionals and researchers developing over the past 30 years or so. First recognized in DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association 1987) as clumsy child syndrome, a number of labels have been applied to the disorder, including dyspraxia (Denckla 1984) and Specific Developmental Disorder of Motor Function (World Health Organization 1992). At present, however, common international approval has been expressed in favour of the term Developmental Coordination This idiopathic disorder is diagnosed in children who, for no medical reason , fail to acquire adequate motor skills. Typically, motor milestones are generally achieved rather late, while core aspects of this disorder can include difficulties in manual dexterity, ball skills and/or balance. Such marked impairment has a significant , negative impact on activities of daily living, such as dressing, eating, riding a bicycle, and/or on academic achievements, primarily as a result of poor handwriting skills (Barnett & Henderson 2005). DCD is not a trivial disorder as it affects around 5% of school-aged children, with a prevalence of boys over girls (3:1). Its onset is apparent in the early years, but usually it is not diagnosed formally before the age of 5 years. It has a varying, but significant, impact throughout the lifespan, and its symptoms are consistent across culture, race, socioeconomic status and gender. Although the long-term prognosis of individuals with DCD is uncertain, adolescence and adulthood is characterized by persistent motor difficulties, in addition to social problems as well as medical and psychiatric consequences (Cousins & Smyth 2005). In the past 30 years, diagnosis of this condition, development of assessment tools and research into the disorder has evolved. While much remains to be done to increase awareness, further strides are being made. This is particularly apparent when considering the level of attendance at international conferences on DCD, the latest of which triggered the papers published in this special issue. The Sixth International Conference on Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD-VI), organized by Drs Stefania Zoia and Aldo Scabar (Institute of Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste) and held in Trieste, Italy, saw 180 delegates from around the world attend a 4-day conference. The programme was very full and stimulating, with studies on research methods, postural control, sensorimo-tor control, handwriting, co-occurrence with other developmental disorders and intervention being presented …