Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Comparing the Neuropsychological Features in Preschool Children with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors
Morteza Mahmoudi 1
Ahmad Abedi 2
Eghbal Shafie 3
Ahmad Yarmohamadyan 2
Valiollah Karamimanesh 3
Azimehsadat Fatemi 1
1 MSc Student, Department of Psychology of Exceptional Children, School of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology of Exceptional Children, School of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
3 Department of Psychology of Exceptional Children, School of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Background: Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) have difficulty in motor activity. Motor impairment is the main feature of this disorder. In addition to the movement problems, these children interfere with other areas of difficulty. The aim of this study was to compare the neuropsychological characteristics such as executive function and attention and sensory-motor functions, language, memory and learning in preschool children with and without developmental coordination disorder.Methods: In this causal-comparative study, the preschool children at the age of 6 years in Isfahan city, Iran, were enrolled. 50 children with developmental coordination disorder and 50 children without it were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using Conner neuropsychological questionnaire and analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).Findings: There were significant differences between neuropsychological characteristics (executive function and attention and sensory-motor functions, language, memory and learning) in children with and without developmental coordination disorder (P < 0.05 for all).Conclusion: This study showed that children with developmental coordination disorder in comparison with normal children are at a lower level of neuropsychological characteristics and suffer from movement problems.
Keywords
Developmental Coordination Disorder
Neuropsychological features
Preschools
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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 31, Issue 265 - Serial Number 265
November and December 2014
Pages 2063-2080

  • Receive Date 31 July 2013
  • Accept Date 06 April 2022