Identification of developmental coordination disorder in Grade 1 learners: a screening tool for parents and teachers

Abstract

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a motor disorder of unclear etiology that severely affects a child’s everyday motor abilities. The study examined the convergent validity of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2, Checklist (MABC-Checklist) completed by parents and teachers, with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2, Performance Test (MABC-2 Performance Test) completed by a movement specialist. The purpose was to determine if parents and teachers were competent to identify learners with motor difficulties. A total of 323 5–8-year-old Grade 1 learners (183 girls, 57.7%; 140 boys, 43.3%); 193 Caucasian, 59.8%; 130 Black, 40.2%) participated in the study. The MABC-Checklist for parents demonstrated a specificity of 71.4%. The convergent validity between the two assessment tools when completed by the parents indicated a kappa coefficient of 0.143, with medium effect size (r=0.240). The MABC-Checklist for teachers demonstrated a specificity of 72.6%. The convergent validity between the two assessment tools when completed by the teachers indicated a kappa coefficient of 0.161, with a medium effect size (r=0.228). In conclusion, it is clear that parents and teachers using the MABC-Checklist could not identify movement difficulties in children.

Keywords: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD); Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2; Checklist; Learners, parents, teachers