Exploring the types of assistive devices and methodological issues in children with developmental coordination
Kengo Fujiwara1, Keisuke Irie1, Akira Nakashima2
1Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience, Advanced Occupational Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Purpose:
To comprehensively map the types of assistive devices implemented for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), regardless of setting, and clarify the methodologies used in these interventions. Specifically, we sought to answer the following questions: (1) What types of assistive devices are available for children with DCD? (2) What is known about the targeted participants, the purpose of using assistive devices, programs implemented, evaluations and results? (3) What are the current limitations of assistive devices, such as lack of tools for fine motor skills, limited focus on daily activities, and insufficient consideration of DCD pathophysiology?
Methods:
This study's methodology was based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. We screened articles, including RCTs, before-and-after comparisons, and single case studies published by May 10, 2024, using PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases.
Results:
We identified 546 English-language articles, of which 51 were included in the final eligibility criteria. We found that active video games, virtual reality, personal computer games, tablets, electronic pens, and robots served as assistive devices that can be used at home. Upon categorizing assistive devices based on their target symptoms (gross motor, fine motor, cognitive, and psychological), we observed that few types of assistive devices related to fine and coordinated movements, and none was designed based on the neurodevelopmental characteristics of DCD, such as impairments in motor planning, internal modeling, or brain function.
Conclusion:
We identified assistive devices used in DCD interventions, including several applicable to home settings. However, most devices targeted gross motor skills, with relatively few addressing fine hand motor movements. In the future, it is necessary to develop assistive devices that consider intervention models focusing on DCD pathophysiology and daily life.
