Developmental Coordination Disorder and Most Prevalent Comorbidities: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Pediatric Neurology
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) presents complex interactions with prevalent comorbidities.
• Existing research highlights heterogeneity and multifactorial influences in DCD.
• Understanding these associations is critical for accurate diagnosis and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the intricate relationships between DCD and its most common associated comorbidities.
• To delineate the complexity, heterogeneity, and multifactorial nature of these co-occurring conditions.
• To propose a specific profiling for co-occurring DCD, ADHD, and ASD signs and symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of scientific literature.
• Systematic search of major scientific databases.
• Exclusion of single case papers to focus on broader trends.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of the complex relationships between DCD and prevalent comorbidities.
• Identification of blurred diagnostic borders between different nosographic entities.
• Highlighting of recent advances in understanding DCD and its associations.

Conclusions:

• A specific profiling for co-occurring DCD, ADHD, and ASD signs and symptoms is proposed.
• The findings underscore the need for a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosing and managing these conditions.
• New diagnostic paradigms for early childhood are suggested based on integrated understanding.