what is dcd

DCD stands for Developmental Coordination Disorder, which is a motor skills disorder that affects five to six percent of all school-aged children. It occurs when there is a delay in the development of motor skills or difficulty coordinating movements, resulting in a child being unable to perform common, everyday tasks. Children with DCD do not have an identifiable medical or neurological condition that explains their coordination problems. DCD is a lifelong condition that makes it hard to learn motor skills and coordination, and its not a learning disorder, but it can impact learning. It's considered a neurodevelopmental disorder, like ADHD, and can make it hard for kids to do schoolwork and keep up with classroom lessons. Although signs of DCD are present from an early age, a definite diagnosis doesn’t usually happen until a child is 5 years old or older. Dyspraxia is another term used to describe DCD, and it is generally preferred by healthcare professionals because dyspraxia can have several meanings.