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Developmental coordination disorder in extremely low birth weight children at nine years
Liisa Holsti1, Ruth V E Grunau, Michael F Whitfield
1Occupational Therapy Department and Neonatal Follow-Up Programme, British Columbia's Children Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. lholsti@cw.bc.ca
Insights
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is common in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children. Over half of ELBW children studied showed signs of DCD, impacting their IQ and learning abilities.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) affects 5-9% of typically developing children.
- DCD significantly impacts academic achievement and daily living activities.
- Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) is a risk factor for neurodevelopmental issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of DCD in school-aged ELBW children.
- To investigate the association between DCD and cognitive/academic outcomes in ELBW children.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 73 ELBW children (birth weight <= 1800g) at 8.9 years of age was assessed.
- Children with major impairments were excluded.
- A control group of 18 term-born, socially matched children was included.
Main Results:
- 51% of ELBW children were diagnosed with DCD.
- ELBW children with DCD had significantly lower Performance IQ scores.
- 43% of ELBW children with DCD experienced learning difficulties in arithmetic.
Conclusions:
- DCD is a prevalent condition in school-aged ELBW children.
- DCD in ELBW children is associated with lower cognitive function and increased risk of learning difficulties.
- Early identification and intervention for DCD in ELBW populations are crucial.
Abstract:
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is defined as an impairment in the development of motor coordination that interferes with academic achievement or activities of daily living (DSM-IV). DCD has been reported to affect 5% to 9% of children in the normal population. This study describes the prevalence of DCD in a cohort of extremely low birth weight children (ELBW, < or = l800 g) at 8.9 years of age, from which were excluded children with major impairments. Seventy-three children were included in the study group, along with 18 term-born, socially matched controls. Of the 73 ELBW children, 37 (51%) were classified as having DCD. ELBW children with DCD also had significantly lower Performance IQ (PIQ) scores and were more likely (43%) to have a learning difficulty in arithmetic than ELBW children who did not have DCD. This study found that DCD is a common problem in school-aged ELBW children.