Developmental coordination disorders and sensory processing and integration: Incidence, associations and co-morbidities.

This was a retrospective case-note review, not a randomised or prospective study, so it can describe what was recorded but cannot show cause or effect. Cases were selected by time frame, not random sampling, and the sample came from children already referred to occupational therapy, so it may not represent all children with DCD. Of 159 records identified, 93 had complete data, and more than 40% of data sets within the time frame were incomplete for reasons that were not investigated. The sample had far more boys than girls, with a male to female ratio of 4.9 to 1, compared with 1.9 to 1 in a recent UK population-based study. Sensory data were parent-reported on the Sensory Processing Measure, which does not identify the type of dysfunction within each sensory system. The measure was standardised on a North American population, and no European normative data were available. Function and participation were recorded only briefly at assessment, with no detailed participation measure and no follow-up. No data were collected on anxiety or attention problems, and only one child had ADHD, so those co-occurring conditions could not be analysed properly.

Do not assume every child with DCD has sensory processing difficulties or that sensory treatment will improve motor function. Only 32% were in the definite difference range, 12% showed no reported difficulties, and motor scores did not line up with sensory scores. This was a retrospective parent-report study of children already identified with DCD, not a test of intervention.