Convergent validity of the developmental coordination disorder checklist using soft neurological signs

To investigate the convergent validity of a new questionnaire, the Developmental Coordination Disorder Checklist (DCDC), we examined the relationship between the DCDC score and Soft Neurological Signs (SNS) which highly correlated with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC), which is widely applied to assess fine and gross motor skills.

The patients were 70 elementary school children without intellectual disabilities who were referred to our clinic, examined for SNS, and whose parents completed the DCDC. The DCDC consists of 16 items that focus on three factors: fine motor, gross motor, and catch and throw. We used a previously described method to assess SNS, which included five tasks: (1) standing on one leg with closed eyes, (2) finger opposition test, (3) diadochokinesis, (4) associated movements during diadochokinesis, and (5) motor persistence (laterally fixed gaze).

DCDC scores and SNS were strongly and positively correlated, with higher DCDC scores (indicating greater coordination problems) associated with a higher number of positive SNS.

DCDC scores have been proven to be strongly correlated with SNS, and these data suggest that DCDC has good convergent validity.