Social Skills in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) (Social_DCD)

University Ghent

Status: Completed

Conditions: Developmental Coordination Disorder

Treatments: Other: Online parental questionnaires

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05092893

b6702021000688

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this study we will examine the social-communicative skills of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) by using online parental questionnaires in children aged 5 to 15y.

Full description

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder described in the DSM-V characterized by motor coordination problems which significantly interfere with daily living activities and participation. The problems cannot be explained by another disorder and are already present in early life.

Although DCD is a 'motor' disorder, other domains may equally be affected. Children with DCD show lower health-related quality of life, more socio-emotional problems, and experience more academic difficulties. It has been proposed that social skills may mediate the emergence of socio-emotional problems at a later age. Previous research has suggested that socials skills of children with DCD may be altered. However, the process remains unclear. One possible hypothesis is that early motor coordination problems leads to avoiding or inhibits age-appropriate physical and social activities, which may reduce the opportunities to develop adequate socials skills and/or may impact negatively on a child's developing self-esteem and create a sense of isolation and exclusion.

Indeed, it has been reported that these children spend more time playing alone and are often onlookers instead of actively engaging in play. In general they exhibit a lower participation rate which may contribute to the reported poorer peer relations, less (deep) friendships, and a tendency for more bullying and loneliness. They also feel less competent in peer and social relations. Poorer social interaction skills and more social communication problems have been recognized in these children even interfering in non-verbal skills such as poorer recognizing of facial expressions and emotions and a reduced tendency to follow gaze which may be similar to children with ASD.

It can be debated if these social problems are comorbid or rather a secondary consequence.

With this study the investigators aim to map social responsiveness problems in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder and clarify if and which domains are most affected. The investigators defined the following research question: "Do children with Developmental Coordination Disorder experience social responsiveness problems compared to typically developing children? If so, which domains are most affected?".

Enrollment: 175 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 15 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Confirmed diagnosis of DCD
• Comorbidities are allowed (f.e. ASD, ADHD, ADD,...)

Exclusion criteria

• Any other neurodevelopmental disorder which might affect motor development (f.e. CP).

Trial design

175 participants in 1 patient group

Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

Description:

INCLUSION: * Confirmed diagnosis of DCD * Comorbidities are allowed (f.e. ASD, ADHD, ADD,...) EXCLUSION: o Any other neurodevelopmental disorder which might affect motor development (f.e. CP).

Treatment:

Other: Online parental questionnaires