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Published on: June 6, 2020
Developmental dysgraphia is often associated with minor neurological dysfunction in children with developmental
Clémence Lopez1, Cherhazad Hemimou1, Bernard Golse2
1Faculty of Medicine, University of Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris City (SPC), 75006 Paris, France; Inserm UMR 1178/1018-CESP, University of Paris Sud-Paris Saclay, UVSQ Villejuif and Paris Descartes, SPC, Necker - Enfants-Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, 75015 Paris, France.
Handwriting disorders are common in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), but dysgraphia is uncommon. Dysgraphia in DCD is linked to minor neurological dysfunction, particularly in motor control pathways.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Developmental psychology
- Motor control research
Background:
- Handwriting disorders are prevalent in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD).
- The specific nature and underlying causes of dysgraphia in DCD remain poorly understood.
- A clearer definition and understanding are needed for accurate diagnosis and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of handwriting disorders in children with DCD.
- To specifically examine the occurrence and potential causes of dysgraphia in this population.
- To enhance the understanding of motor control disturbances associated with DCD and dysgraphia.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-five children diagnosed with DCD (ages 5-15) were recruited based on DSM-5 criteria.
- Participants underwent comprehensive handwriting assessments.
- Neuropsychological, neurovisual, MRI, and neuropsychomotor functions were evaluated, with a focus on muscular tone.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of handwriting disorders (89%) was observed in the DCD sample.
- Dysgraphia was less common (17%) and significantly associated with specific laterality establishment dysfunctions.
- Key associations included mild pyramidal tract dysfunction and digital praxis slowness (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Dysgraphia in children with DCD is linked to minor neurological dysfunction (MND), indicating corticospinal motor pathway disturbances.
- The findings underscore the uncommon nature of dysgraphia in DCD, necessitating careful evaluation of MND, including muscular tone.
- Accurate diagnosis and optimized therapeutic management require attention to MND in both research and clinical settings.
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