Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
_____% of school-age children have movement difficulties, unrelated to specific neurological
conditions or cognitive impairment, that limit their potential and affect their long-term academic
achievement. - CORRECT ANSWER - 5-6%
*KEY PHRASE: "unrelated to specific neurological conditions or cognitive impairment"
What are some of the struggles those with DCD have? - CORRECT ANSWER - Struggle
with dressing, throwing and catching balls, and learning to ride a bicycle
May have poor perceived competence, social isolation, low self-worth, anxiety, and depressive
symptoms, even at early ages
What is DCD? - CORRECT ANSWER - A chronic condition involving impairment in
gross motor, postural, and/or fine motor performance that affects a child's ability to perform the
skilled movements necessary for daily living, including performance of academic and self-care
tasks
Is a "marked impairment in the development of motor coordination... only if this impairment
significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities or daily living" (from
canchild.ca)
Guide to PT Practice: DCD is a diagnostic group 5C: impaired motor function and sensory
integrity associated with nonprogressive disorders of the CNS - congenital origin or acquired in
infancy or childhood
What is the ratio of boys to girls who have DCD? - CORRECT ANSWER - 2:1 boys but
recent studies suggest more equal boy/girl ratio
, There is a higher prevalence of DCD in preterm or postterm? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Preterm
T/F
Preterm/low birth weight infants have poor coordination and associated decreased aerobic
fitness, strength, and physical activity levels. - CORRECT ANSWER - True
DCD is present when: - CORRECT ANSWER - Motor impairment and/or motor skill
delay significantly impacts a child's ability to perform age-appropriate complex motor activities
Adequate opportunities for experience and practice have been provided
No other explanation can be offered for the motor impairment
What is the diagnostic criteria that must be met to make a DCD diagnosis? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Performance in daily activities that require motor coordination is substantially
below that expected, given the person's chronological age and measured by intelligence
The disturbance significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities of daily living
The disturbance is not due to a general medical conditions (i.e., CP, hemiplegia, muscular
dystrophy) and does not meet criteria for a pervasive developmental disorder
If mental retardation (intellectual disability) is present, motor difficulties are in excess of those
usually associated with it
Performance in daily activities that require motor coordination is substantially below that
expected, given the person's chronological age and measured by intelligence may be manifested
by what? - CORRECT ANSWER - Marked delays in achieving motor milestones (i.e.,
walking, crawling, sitting)
Dropping things
"Clumsiness"
Poor performance in sports
Poor handwriting
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
_____% of school-age children have movement difficulties, unrelated to specific neurological
conditions or cognitive impairment, that limit their potential and affect their long-term academic
achievement. - CORRECT ANSWER - 5-6%
*KEY PHRASE: "unrelated to specific neurological conditions or cognitive impairment"
What are some of the struggles those with DCD have? - CORRECT ANSWER - Struggle
with dressing, throwing and catching balls, and learning to ride a bicycle
May have poor perceived competence, social isolation, low self-worth, anxiety, and depressive
symptoms, even at early ages
What is DCD? - CORRECT ANSWER - A chronic condition involving impairment in
gross motor, postural, and/or fine motor performance that affects a child's ability to perform the
skilled movements necessary for daily living, including performance of academic and self-care
tasks
Is a "marked impairment in the development of motor coordination... only if this impairment
significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities or daily living" (from
canchild.ca)
Guide to PT Practice: DCD is a diagnostic group 5C: impaired motor function and sensory
integrity associated with nonprogressive disorders of the CNS - congenital origin or acquired in
infancy or childhood
What is the ratio of boys to girls who have DCD? - CORRECT ANSWER - 2:1 boys but
recent studies suggest more equal boy/girl ratio
, There is a higher prevalence of DCD in preterm or postterm? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Preterm
T/F
Preterm/low birth weight infants have poor coordination and associated decreased aerobic
fitness, strength, and physical activity levels. - CORRECT ANSWER - True
DCD is present when: - CORRECT ANSWER - Motor impairment and/or motor skill
delay significantly impacts a child's ability to perform age-appropriate complex motor activities
Adequate opportunities for experience and practice have been provided
No other explanation can be offered for the motor impairment
What is the diagnostic criteria that must be met to make a DCD diagnosis? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Performance in daily activities that require motor coordination is substantially
below that expected, given the person's chronological age and measured by intelligence
The disturbance significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities of daily living
The disturbance is not due to a general medical conditions (i.e., CP, hemiplegia, muscular
dystrophy) and does not meet criteria for a pervasive developmental disorder
If mental retardation (intellectual disability) is present, motor difficulties are in excess of those
usually associated with it
Performance in daily activities that require motor coordination is substantially below that
expected, given the person's chronological age and measured by intelligence may be manifested
by what? - CORRECT ANSWER - Marked delays in achieving motor milestones (i.e.,
walking, crawling, sitting)
Dropping things
"Clumsiness"
Poor performance in sports
Poor handwriting
