The ability of parents to identify Grade 1-learners with developmental coordination disorder at home

Abstract

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is recognised as one of the most common developmental dysfunctions during childhood and a large number of children between 6 and 12 years of age are identified with DCD. The aim of the study was to examine the convergent validity of the classification of motor difficulties by Kinderkineticists-in-training, using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2 Test), and the classification of motor difficulties by the parents of the participants, using the DCD Questionnaire ’07 (DCDQ’07), to determine if parents possess the competency to identify DCD at home. Grade 1-learners (N=410) between the ages of 5 to 8 years participated (girls: n=226 [55%]; boys: n=184 [45%]). The ethnic groups represented were 67% Caucasian and 33% Black children. The results indicated 91% specificity for the DCDQ’07. In contrast, the sensitivity was only 23%. The kappa coefficient of 0.151 indicated a 15% convergent validity between the two assessment tools. Therefore, the parents in this study, who used the DCDQ’07, could not identify children with DCD at home.

Key words: DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder); MABC-2 Test (Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2); Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire’07 (DCDQ’07); Grade 1-learners.