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Crossing the Boundaries: Childrens & Young Peoples Research The Robert Gordon University Health Services Research Group
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Long term outcome for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) & their families Dr E Stephenson August 2005
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Part of PhD research undertaken through The Robert Gordon University, in collaboration with Royal Aberdeen Childrens Hospital - completed November 2004
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The wider study investigated: effectiveness of occupational therapy screening assessment in a one-stop clinic (single entry point & single assessment framework) longer term outcome for children with DCD – 6 years after initial assessment impact of DCD on families
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Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) DSM-IV criteria (American Psychiatric Association 1994) Performance in daily activities requiring motor coordination substantially below that expected …. Disturbance significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities of daily living Disturbance not due to general medical condition (e.g. cerebral palsy) If mental retardation present, motor difficulties are in excess of it
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Alternative terms Specific Developmental Disorder of Motor Function (SDDMF) (ICD-10 World Health Organisation 1992) –Criteria similar to DCD, but does not include children with cognitive delay Dyspraxia –Used in the UK in a similar generic way to DCD & SDDMF, mainly in non-medical contexts
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DCD / SDDMF / (Dyspraxia in UK) Motor (Execution) Praxic Postural +/- Co-ordination Mechanical Gen Praxic Problems Bilateral Skills Deficit High Level problem Tone Postural Responses Co-ord + Control Praxic Post / Co-ord
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Long term outcome for children Surveyed via questionnaires completed by parents, 6 years after initial assessment Respondents:- 36 families (51% of those contacted), but representing 66% of those who had replied to a survey 5 years before Respondents, therefore, a self-selected group, though DCD had been identified on initial assessment for ALL of their children
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One questionnaire, filled in by the child herself, was excluded Investigation included motor, academic, emotional, behavioural and social aspects
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Reported long-term outcomes Ages ranged from 10 - 20 years (n=35) 84% were boys High persistence of problems across several of the areas investigated 80% had persisting problems reported in 3 or more areas
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Nature of persisting problems reported Motor problems - 80% (n=28) Academic problems - 77% (n=27) Emotional problems - 86% (n=30) Unacceptable behaviour - 43% (n=15) Social difficulty - 31% (n=11)
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Number of areas affected (n=35) All areas - 17% (n=6) 4 areas - 29% (n=10) 3 areas - 34% (n=12) 2 areas - 3% (n=1) 1 area - 8.5% (n=3)
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Link between motor problems & other areas In children with persisting motor problems (n=28), 93% (n=26) had difficulties in at least 2 other areas In those children with no persisting motor difficulty (n=7) only one had problems in 2 or more areas
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Link between persisting problems & initial assessment findings There was no obvious relationship between persistence of problems & degree, or nature, of motor difficulty identified on initial assessment. However, DCD had been identified on initial assessment for ALL of the respondents children. 56% had pronounced DCD In contrast, of the non-respondents children, many had alternative primary problems. 18% only had pronounced DCD.
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The impact of DCD on families Established through in-depth interviews with 12 mothers Areas investigated included perceived effect of DCD on families; adaptations made; educational & social implications; emotional issues
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Profiles of 12 children 4 had primary diagnoses other than DCD 2 only had DCD in isolation (ie. No co- morbidities or co-existing problems) ……this is congruent with current research on co-morbidity, and typical of referrals to DCD clinics (Kaplan et al 1998; COT/NAPOT 2003; Dunford et al 2004)
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Key themes emerging from interviews 1.Effect of motor problems on children 2.Impact of childrens problems on mothers 3.Need to fight the system to get services 4.Emotional effect of DCD on children 5.Bullying & social issues 6.Impact within the family
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1. Effect of motor problems on children Where DCD was the primary diagnosis, 6 of the 8 children had persisting motor difficulty The 4 children with alternative primary diagnoses, that included DCD, seemed even more profoundly affected Functional areas affected in these 10 children included PE, sports, playtime activities, dressing, eating, writing Where motor aspects were maturing, continuing effects of earlier failure were described
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2. Impact of childrens problems on mothers Two main sub-themes emerged: a) time commitment & b) emotional effects All 12 mothers considered time commitment to the child with difficulties to be considerably greater than for other children Mothers described worry, stress, distress, anger, frustration, fatigue. Several felt emotionally drained, over-protective, guilty A degree of guilt was felt by 9 of the 12 despite their time commitment
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3. The need to fight the system 11 mothers had felt this need The perceived need to fight for childrens rights seemed to apply particularly to educational issues Most felt that a degree of support had been provided by individual teachers 3 mothers also felt they had struggled to obtain a diagnosis & follow-up therapy
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4. Emotional effect on children All 12 mothers described emotional problems in their children These included anger, frustration, unhappiness, distress, depression, low self- esteem, embarrassment, shyness Opting out behaviours were the result for most children 4 families had been offered psychiatric help
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5. Bullying & social issues Long-term persistent bullying was experienced by 5 children For a further 4 children bullying episodes were more sporadic Half the children chose a degree of self- imposed isolation For 3 children no social problems were described
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6. Impact of DCD on the family Significant effects were reported by all 12 mothers Impact extended to fathers, siblings, & in some cases extended family members, who made adjustments to accommodate the childs needs There were often parental differences, resulting in separation for 2 couples Some mothers felt their husbands to be particularly supportive
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Questions that arise What are the factors that influence outcome for children with DCD? –Organic v environmental? –Resilience: child, family, community? Can we address the high levels of distress in mothers, as reported here? –Early diagnosis? –Can outcome be predicted? –Local service provision?
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Given limited resources (health, education, community support), what are the priorities for intervention? - Multi-agency, single entry point approach to assessment? - More support locally for families & teachers? - Provision of direct therapy for children?
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Summary DCD is seen as a mild disorder, but children do not necessarily grow out of it - - motor problems & other areas of difficulty persist The functional and socio-emotional effects are pronounced The impact on families is considerable Parents perceived need to fight the system for resources is of concern
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Finally Given high incidence (4.5% - 6%) of DCD in the child population ( WHO 1992; APA 1994; Sugden and Chambers 1998 ), and poor outcome ( Rasmussen and Gillberg 2000; Hadders-Algra 2002; Stephenson 2004 ) …… should services for children with DCD not be a higher priority within health care, education, & the community?
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Long term outcome for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) & their families Dr E Stephenson August 2005
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