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The importance of parent and child opinion in detecting change in movement capabilities
1Department of Paediatric Neurosciences, Newcomen Centre, Guy's Hospital, London, UK. dido.green@gstt.nhs.uk
Background:
Children and parents can make valid judgments about movement difficulties, which aids in the screening and assessment of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). When considering therapy outcomes, child and family-centred practice supports the inclusion of parent and child perspectives to reflect progress made in meaningful daily contexts.
Purpose:
This paper describes an evaluation of the use of questionnaires for parents and children to measure change in motor performance.
Methods:
Questionnaires were administered to 43 children with DCD and their parents five times over two-anda-quarter years in conjunction with other clinical measures.
Findings:
Parent report, using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, correlated significantly with clinical measures of motor skill, whilst parent and child perceptions differed. Children's confidence and resilience may influence their opinions of their ability.
Implications:
These results raise questions of whose perspective of progress is most valid and relevant - the therapist's, child's or parent's?
