Identifying Developmental Motor Difficulties: A Review of Tests to Assess Motor Coordination in Children

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Alice Cancer1, Rebecca Minoliti1, Maura Crepaldi2

  • 1Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 20123 Milan, Italy.

Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
|January 20, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Early identification of motor impairments in children is crucial. This review compares 14 tools for assessing developmental coordination disorder (DCD), emphasizing the need for culturally valid assessments.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Motor coordination difficulties are increasingly recognized in children.
  • Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) impacts motor proficiency.
  • Standardized, norm-referenced tests are recommended for early identification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and compare 14 international motor assessment tools for children and adolescents.
  • To evaluate motor tests based on task nature, psychometric properties, and cultural adaptation.
  • To discuss implications for DCD diagnosis and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of 14 motor performance assessment tools.
  • Comparison based on task types (questionnaire, clinical examination).
  • Evaluation of psychometric properties and cultural adaptations.

Main Results:

  • Motor proficiency assessment varies with task nature.
  • Psychometric properties and cultural validity differ across tools.
  • Need for culturally adapted and validated assessments is highlighted.

Conclusions:

  • Selecting appropriate DCD assessment tools requires careful consideration of reliability and validity across cultures.
  • Further research is needed to compare validation studies and guide clinical practice.
  • Standardized, culturally sensitive assessments are key for accurate DCD diagnosis.

Keywords:
assessmentdevelopmental coordination disorderdevelopmental neuropsychologydyspraxia

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