The unmet clinical needs of children with developmental coordination disorder.
Melissa K LicariGail A AlvaresCharmaine BernieCatherine ElliottKiah L EvansSarah McIntyreSarah V PillarJess E ReynoldsSiobhan L ReidAlicia J SpittleAndrew J O WhitehouseJill G ZwickerJacqueline WilliamsPublished in: Pediatric research (2021)
This is the first comprehensive study to examine the challenges families experience gaining a diagnosis and therapy for their child with DCD. Families regularly experienced prolonged diagnosis; 45% waited between 2 and 4 years. There is no clear diagnostic pathway, with children more likely to be diagnosed with dyspraxia than the correct clinical diagnosis of DCD. More extensive implementation of the diagnostic guidelines into clinical practice is needed.