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Is severity of motor coordination difficulties related to co-morbidity in children at risk for developmental

Marina M Schoemaker1, Raghu Lingam, Marian J Jongmans

  • 1University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Centre for Human Movement Sciences, PO Box 30,001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.

Research in Developmental Disabilities
|July 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Children with severe motor difficulties face higher risks of co-occurring issues in daily living, academics, and social skills compared to those with moderate motor challenges. Early screening and intervention are crucial for both groups.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Child Psychology
  • Motor Skill Development

Background:

  • Motor coordination difficulties are prevalent in childhood.
  • Understanding co-occurring challenges is vital for effective support.
  • The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) provides a robust cohort for investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the risk of co-morbid difficulties in children with severe versus moderate motor challenges.
  • To identify specific areas of co-morbidity, including daily living, academic, attention, and social skills.
  • To establish a gradient of risk based on motor difficulty severity.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 6959 children in the ALSPAC cohort, aged 7-9.
  • Categorized children into control, moderate motor difficulties (5th-15th centile), and severe motor difficulties (<5th centile) groups.
  • Employed logistic regression to assess co-morbidity risks in activities of daily living, academic skills, attention, and social skills, excluding children with neurological disorders or IQ < 70.

Main Results:

  • Children with severe motor difficulties showed significantly higher risks in activities of daily living, handwriting, attention, reading, and social cognition compared to those with moderate difficulties.
  • Children with moderate motor difficulties also exhibited increased risks across five domains compared to control children.
  • A clear dose-response relationship was observed, with greater motor impairment correlating with higher co-morbidity risk.

Conclusions:

  • Severe motor difficulties confer a substantially higher risk for associated developmental and functional impairments than moderate difficulties.
  • Co-occurring conditions are common in children with both moderate and severe motor coordination issues.
  • Routine screening and timely intervention for co-morbid problems are strongly recommended for children identified with any level of motor coordination deficit.

Keywords:
ADLALSPACAcademic skillsAttentionCo-morbidityDevelopmental coordination disorderSocial skills

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