DCD and Sensory Integration

So often people ask about DCD and sensory integration and often the question is;

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/dyspraxia/are-dyspraxia-and-dcd-the-same-thing

Read more here about recent research:

Atypical Sensory Processing Profiles and Their Associations With Motor Problems In Preschoolers With Developmental Coordination Disorder.

“Our findings indicate that sensory processing abnormalities may contribute to the pathophysiology of DCD, suggesting the importance of assessing sensory processing functions in children with DCD.”

Mikami, M., Hirota, T., Takahashi, M. et al. Atypical Sensory Processing Profiles and Their Associations With Motor Problems In Preschoolers With Developmental Coordination Disorder. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-020-01013-5

Developmental coordination disorders and sensory processing and integration: Incidence, associations and co-morbidities

“Parent reports indicate that 32% of a clinical population of children with DCD present with definite sensory processing and integration difficulties, as identified by the SPM. A further 56% of parents identified some difficulty. This study showed no apparent correlation between motor skills and reported sensory processing and integration difficulties. When comparing children with only DCD and those with co-occurring ASD, body awareness, balance and motion, and planning and ideation showed similar levels of challenge, while vision, hearing and touch demonstrated a greater reported challenge in those with additional ASD. Sensory processing and integration difficulties are known to impact on function and participation; therefore, sensory processing and integration should be considered as a possible barrier to participation in children with DCD.”

Allen, S., & Casey, J. (2017). Developmental coordination disorders and sensory processing and integration: Incidence, associations and co-morbidities. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 80(9), 549–557. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022617709183

Relationship between Mastery Motivation and Sensory Processing Difficulties in South Korean Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

This study indicated that sensory processing difficulties and lack of mastery motivation were identified among children with DCD in South Korea. And the children with high mastery motivation show less difficulty in sensory processing. It is suggested to develop possible solution for higher mastery motivation to improve sensory processing of the children with DCD in South Korea.

Kim, Hee. (2020). Relationship between Mastery Motivation and Sensory Processing Difficulties in South Korean Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Occupational Therapy International. 2020. 1-8. 10.1155/2020/6485453.

Cortical Functioning in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Motor Overflow Study

Licari MK, Billington J, Reid SL, et al. (2015) Cortical functioning in children with developmental coordination disorder: a motor overflow study. Exp Brain Res. (2015) 233(6):1703-1710.

Abstract

This study examined brain activation in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) to reveal areas that may contribute to poor movement execution and/or abundant motor overflow. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, 13 boys with DCD (mean age = 9.6 years ±0.8) and 13 typically developing controls (mean age = 9.3 years ±0.6) were scanned performing two tasks (finger sequencing and hand clenching) with their dominant hand, while a four-finger motion sensor recorded contralateral motor overflow on their non-dominant hand. Despite displaying increased motor overflow on both functional tasks during scanning, there were no obvious activation deficits in the DCD group to explain the abundant motor overflow seen. However, children with DCD were found to display decreased activation in the left superior frontal gyrus on the finger-sequencing task, an area which plays an integral role in executive and spatially oriented processing. Decreased activation was also seen in the left inferior frontal gyrus, an area typically active during the observation and imitation of hand movements. Finally, increased activation in the right postcentral gyrus was seen in children with DCD, which may reflect the increased reliance on somatosensory information during the execution of complex fine motor tasks.

This useful article from Pathways is often also referred to; https://pathways.org/developmental-coordination-disorder-and-sensory-processing-issues-in-children/

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/dyspraxia/are-dyspraxia-and-dcd-the-same-thing

Ayres Dyspraxia Monograph, 25th Anniversary Edition

Sharon A Cermak and A Jean Ayres
This seminal work by Jean Ayres provides a foundation for understanding the neurobiological basis for the development of praxis and dyspraxia in children and adults. Published by PTN this monograph which now includes Reflections on 25 Years of Dyspraxia Research by Sharon A. Cermak, EdD, OTR, FAOTA and How Does it Feel to Be a Dyspraxic Child?” by A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR.