Gender and age differences in the presentation of at-risk or probable Developmental Coordination Disorder in adults.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nDevelopmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), also called Dyspraxia, is a common Neurodevelopmental Disorder (NDD) that affects motor coordination with a marked impact on both academic and day-to-day living activities. It is increasingly clear that NDDs such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder may present differently in males and females, resulting in underdiagnoses of women and girls.\n\n\nAIMS\nTo consider age and gender differences in the presentation of at-risk and probable DCD.\n\n\nMETHODS AND PROCEDURES\nA sample of 1,476 adults aged 16-60 years were surveyed online using the Adult DCD Checklist.\n\n\nOUTCOMES AND RESULTS\nWomen with at-risk (n\u2009=\u20091 8 6, 1 6. 6 %) or probable DCD (n\u2009=\u20096 4 3, 5 6. 6 %) reported significantly greater gross motor and non-motor difficulties and significantly greater impact on activities and participation, whereas men with at-risk (n\u2009=\u200958,16.3 %) or probable (n\u2009=\u2009177,49.9 %), DCD reported significantly greater fine motor difficulties. Emerging adults (aged 16-25 years) with at-risk (n\u2009=\u200965,14.3 %) or probable (293,64.3 %) DCD reported significantly greater non-motor difficulty than adults (aged 26-60+ years) with at-risk (n\u2009=\u2009179,17.5 %) or probable (n\u2009=\u2009518, 50.8 %) DCD.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS\nBoth age and gender differences were found in the presentation of at-risk and probable DCD in adults. This may have implications for the development of future DCD assessment tools and for the training of front-line staff who may encounter individuals with DCD throughout their lives, including teachers, doctors and employers Human Resources and Occupational Health staff.